In a dramatic turn of events, former UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman has resigned from her position, delivering a potent parting blow with a scathing letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Posted on social media, her resignation letter accuses the Prime Minister of being “weak” and failing to fulfill significant policy commitments.
The resignation follows a tumultuous week for the government, with Ms. Braverman’s departure marking another blow to PM Sunak’s administration. In her extensive three-page letter, Braverman holds nothing back, articulating her profound disappointment in Sunak’s leadership and decision-making.
“I agreed to support you because of the firm assurances you gave me on key policies… our deal was no mere promise over dinner, to be discarded when convenient and denied when challenged,” Braverman wrote, indicating her initial support for Sunak was contingent on specific policy commitments.
Her scathing criticism centers around what she describes as Sunak’s failure to address illegal migration effectively, specifically the migrant boats crossing the English Channel and the implementation of statutory guidance to schools regarding the protection of biological sex. She also mentioned the unfulfilled promises regarding the Northern Ireland protocol.
“Your rejection of this path was not merely a betrayal of our agreement but a betrayal of your promise to the nation that you would do ‘whatever it takes’ to stop the boats,” Braverman continued in her letter. She expressed deep skepticism regarding Sunak’s intentions and capabilities, questioning both his style of governance and his commitment to his promises.
“Someone needs to be honest: your plan is not working, we have endured record election defeats, your resets have failed and we are running out of time,” she further added, highlighting the perceived failures of the Prime Minister’s strategies and the urgency of the situation.
Braverman also touched upon Wednesday’s Supreme Court ruling regarding the government’s controversial plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. She labeled Sunak’s refusal to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights — a move she believed necessary to implement the Rwanda scheme — as a “betrayal.”
“You opted instead for wishful thinking as a comfort blanket to avoid having to make hard choices. This irresponsibility has wasted time and left the country in an impossible position,” Braverman lamented in her letter.
Her exit follows her contentious comments about the police’s handling of a pro-Palestinian march. In an article for The Times, Braverman accused the police of “playing favourites” during protests, ignoring “pro-Palestinian mobs,” and suggested that the demonstrations were an “assertion of primacy by certain groups — particularly Islamists.”
These remarks led to accusations by the Opposition Labour Party that she had exacerbated tensions at pro-Palestinian rallies. The ensuing pressure culminated in Prime Minister Sunak facing calls to remove her from his cabinet, culminating in her eventual sacking and the dramatic resignation that followed.
Braverman’s departure and her sharp critique of Sunak’s leadership have sent ripples through the UK political landscape, highlighting the deepening divisions and challenges within the government. As the country navigates these turbulent political waters, the fallout from this high-profile resignation is expected to have significant implications for the Prime Minister’s tenure and the direction of UK politics.
