Braverman resigns after security breach
By Connor Steel
FAREHAM MP Suella Braverman has officially confirmed her resignation as Home Secretary after breaching Government security rules on Wednesday, representing another blow for Liz Truss in a turbulent fortnight for the Prime Minister following multiple mini-budget U-turns and the sacking of ex-Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng.
Speculation reigned this afternoon as the Prime Minister made a last-minute withdrawal from her scheduled meeting event with electronic manufacturers and journalists in London; Downing Street initially citing urgent ‘Government business’ before announcing the news of Ms Braverman’s shock resignation just after 4:30pm.
It has been confirmed that Ms Braverman quit after sharing sensitive Government information using a private phone via email on Wednesday morning, an incident that was called ‘a honest mistake’ by her Parliamentary colleagues and was immediately reported to the relevant officials in Whitehall before meeting with Liz Truss.
This development ended rumours of a policy disagreement between the Home Secretary and Prime Minister, although Ms Braverman stated in her now widely-shared resignation letter; ‘It is obvious to everyone that we are going through a tumultuous time. I have concerns about the direction of this (current Tory) Government’.
The former leadership contender’s comments will however fuel speculation that the Conservative Party have already lost faith in their Prime Minister as the ‘mini-budget aftermath’ continues. At the time of writing 6 MPs have said they have submitted letters of no-confidence whilst paid members have further called for her exit.
A full transcript of Ms Braverman’s letter and response from Liz Truss can be read here, with Downing Street quickly announcing that former Transport Secretary Grant Shapps will take over the role just 43 days. It will be the second Cabinet change in five days after Jeremy Hunt was appointed Chancellor last Friday (14/10).
After being appointed on September 6, Ms Braverman’s forty-three days in the top cabinet position is the 3rd shortest in history according to the House of Commons Library. Record data shows that she is only ahead of Arthur Wellesley (30 days) in 1834 and a shorter occupation from George Nugent Temple Grenville in 1783.
But despite this the Fareham MP has won respect for her part in organising policing after the death of Queen Elizabeth II last month, which saw the Met Police’s largest ever operation throughout the State Funeral. The official period of mourning also led to thousands of officers deployed to the UK capital from September 8-19.
This week also saw the passing of her controversial ‘Public Order Bill’ in the House of Commons, who voted in favour by 283-234 at its third reading stage. This follows debate in Parliament and the bill is set to receive further scrutiny from the House of Lords, becoming law once approved and given Royal Assent by the King.
Opposition MPs have reacted to the resignation of Ms Braverman, with the Labour Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper telling colleagues that the Government is now ‘falling apart at the seams’. Meanwhile the Lib Dems have described Ms Braverman’s shock departure as the latest in this ‘carousel of Conservative chaos’.
Readers are encouraged to visit media sites such as BBC News, Sky News and ITV News for all developing updates or reaction to this story. They can also visit Suella Braverman’s official constituency website here.
PICTURED BY ALAMY (2H6MBE4): Suella Braverman exits her vehicle outside 10 Downing Street back in November last year, when she was the Attorney General under Boris Johnson’s reign as UK Prime Minister.
