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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Dan Bloom

Tory Suella Braverman's 'vindictive' attacks on migrants blasted by quitting adviser

Top Tory Suella Braverman's 'vindictive' attacks on migrants have been blasted for ‘legitimising’ racism by a departing Home Office tsar.

Nimco Ali spoke out after quitting as an independent Government adviser on tackling violence against women and girls.

Ms Ali, a close friend of Carrie and Boris Johnson, said the final straw was when she saw the Home Secretary’s eyes “lighting up” when she discussed her “dream” of deporting asylum seekers.

She told the Sunday Times: “I don't know why your ambition is to put people on a flight to Rwanda and get rid of human rights.

“You are a woman of colour. I can understand when white able-bodied men say it, but you?

“Even talking about it now makes me anxious.

Suella Braverman's comments are 'legitimising' racism, a departing advisor said (UK PARLIAMENT/AFP via Getty Imag)

"I think that's the difference between her and Priti. Priti talked about policy but there wasn't this vindictiveness.

“It was a lack of compassion. It really doesn't cost anything to be kind."

Ms Ali - a survivor of female genital mutilation - revealed on live radio earlier this month that she’d quit her role advising government.

The Somali-born campaigner, who moved to Britain aged four, remains a prominent activist against violence against women and girls.

She said Ms Braverman - who has branded small boats in the Channel an “invasion” - is “legitimising” racism and “normalising the Nigel Farages”.

She told the Sunday Times: "She's basically feeding into this Nigel Farage stuff… and when you start to normalise these things it's really hard to put it back in its box.

“When you have your home secretary speaking the way she is speaking and being cheered, that is problematic, especially when you're the first man of colour to be prime minister."

Nimco Ali spoke out after quitting as an independent Government adviser (PA)
Tory ministers have branded desperate migrants on small boats in the Channel an “invasion” (AFP via Getty Images)

A source close to Ms Braverman said she “makes no apologies” for being “honest about the scale of the crisis” of small boats.

Ms Ali is also calling for ex-Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick to be denied a seat in the House of Lords.

She claimed Dame Cressida complained the government’s initial response to Sarah Everard’s murder by an officer was over the top.

In claims denied by the ex-police chief, Ms Ali told the Sunday Times: "Her first words were 'this has been blown out of proportion'."

Nimco Ali also hit out at Dame Cressida Dick's reaction to the Sarah Everard murder (PA)

She said Boris Johnson replied “yeah, but a woman has literally just been lifted off the street. It doesn't matter if it doesn't happen every day, it's happened.”

She went on: “I will never forgive Cressida for that flippancy. For her it was all about her officers. I don't think at any point she ever gave a s*** about women."

Dame Cressida denied the claims, telling the Sunday Times: "I did not make those comments and it is not language I would ever use.

“I entirely supported every effort the government was making at that time, giving advice and taking action in the Met. Throughout my service I sought to reduce violence against women and girls."

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