In a heated exchange during a parliamentary session in the House Of Commons today (22/05), Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP raised serious allegations against Home Secretary Suella Braverman, accusing her of seeking special treatment and breaking the ministerial code. The accusations centred around Braverman’s handling of a speeding penalty and her alleged involvement of civil servants and special advisers.
Cooper, in her pointed remarks, stated, “At the heart of the Home Secretary’s responsibility is to ensure that laws are fairly enforced for all. But when she got a speeding penalty, it seems that she sought special treatment—a private course—and asked civil servants to help.” Cooper demanded answers regarding the nature of Braverman’s interactions with the civil service and whether she authorised her special adviser to mislead journalists about the existence of the speeding penalty.
In response, Home Secretary Suella Braverman addressed the issue, acknowledging her mistake. “In the summer of last year, I was speeding. I regret that. I paid the fine and I accepted the points. At no time did I seek to avoid the sanction,” Braverman clarified. She further emphasised that her focus remained on delivering for the British people, highlighting achievements such as an increased number of police officers and plans to tackle immigration and crime.
However, Yvette Cooper persisted in criticising the Home Secretary, accusing her of failing to deliver for the British people and evading crucial questions about her interactions with civil servants. Cooper stressed the importance of Braverman abiding by the ministerial code and enforcing rules fairly, alleging that the Home Secretary had previously violated the code’s guidelines on private and public interests.
Cooper highlighted several instances where Braverman appeared to disregard established protocols, including breaching security measures despite being responsible for them, attempting to evade penalties despite her authority in setting them and being reappointed after breaking the ministerial code. The Shadow Home Secretary also criticised Braverman’s public critique of Home Office policies despite being in charge of them, particularly focusing on issues such as knife crime, channel crossings, and immigration.
In a sharp retort, Braverman turned the tables on Cooper, suggesting that the Labour Party had failed to represent the priorities of the British people. She demanded an apology from the Labour Party for campaigning against the deportation of foreign national offenders and leaving the country with a lower number of police officers.
Mr. Speaker intervened, reminding the participants that he bore no responsibility for the actions of the Labour Party.
The accusations and counter-accusations made during the parliamentary session have intensified the scrutiny on Suella Braverman’s conduct as Home Secretary. As the public awaits further developments, questions about fairness, integrity, and adherence to the ministerial code continue to loom large over the Home Secretary’s position.
