British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak dismissed Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who accused the British police of taking sides for allowing demonstrations in support of Palestine.
British Home Secretary Suella Braverman accused the British police of “taking sides” for allowing pro-Palestinian demonstrations. These statements of Braverman led to his dismissal. Braverman was dismissed by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak due to his statements. “It has been a great privilege for me to serve as Minister of the Interior,” Braverman said in his statement.
Secretary of State James Cleverly was appointed to the seat vacated by Braverman.
Former Prime Minister returned to the cabinet
On the other hand, former Prime Minister David Cameron was appointed to replace Cleverly.
Cameron resigned after the Brexit referendum, in which it was decided that Britain would leave the European Union.
Suella Braverman attracted attention with her statements
Braverman, who became Minister of Internal Affairs on September 6, 2022, took actions that caused controversy during his term of office.
Born to a father and mother of Indian origin who immigrated from Mauritius and Kenya, Braverman completed his law education at Cambridge University and then completed his master’s degree in European and French law in Paris.
Braverman, who specializes in public law and judicial review, was elected Conservative MP for Fareham in May 2015.
Braverman, who held various positions in previous governments, was appointed to the Ministry of Internal Affairs by former Prime Minister Liz Truss, replacing Priti Patel, who is also of Indian origin, while serving as the Chief Public Prosecutor of the United Kingdom.
While Braverman supported Britain’s departure from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), he also advocated for his country to leave the EU in the Brexit referendum in 2016.
Rwanda plan for refugees
Braverman made many controversial statements and practices during his time as the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The first of these was the plan to send refugees to Rwanda, which was signed during the reign of his predecessor Patel.
Braverman, who said that he wanted to see the news that refugees were sent to Rwanda in the headline of The Daily Telegraph newspaper, stated that the Rwanda plan was his “dream” and “obsession”.
While the Rwanda plan was stuck in legal obstacles, Braverman expressed his desire to send the refugees back to their home countries or to third countries at every opportunity.
In this context, the UK, which has made statements about some countries that are safe enough to send asylum seekers to, has also made agreements with countries such as Albania on the return of its citizens who entered the UK illegally.
Braverman was also criticized for giving the police new powers to ensure public order. The new Public Order Law, which increases the police’s authority to disperse, deny permission and intervene in protesters, was protested by many human rights organizations in the country.
Architect of the plan to place immigrants on ships
One of the important agenda items of Braverman’s ministry was the fight against irregular migration. Arguing that the fight against irregular migration should be done “to protect children from invasion and exploitation gangs”, Braverman received criticism even from his party for these statements.
Braverman, who said that his words were the truth, not racism, was also the architect of the Illegal Immigration Law, which paved the way for those who entered the country illegally to be deported to their own country or third countries within 28 days, and the plan to move asylum seekers held in hotels to shelter ships and military facilities.
The Bibby Stockholm shelter ship, prepared to accommodate 500 people within the framework of the plan announced by Braverman, opened its doors to the first immigrants in August, despite the local government’s reports about the risk of fire and the difficulty of evacuations.
Although the ship was evacuated a few days later due to legionella bacteria found in the water, it was put back into service in October. During this period, the first immigrants began to be taken to shelters in military facilities that could host nearly 2 thousand refugees.
His comment about Palestinian flags
His reactions to the marches held in support of Palestine throughout the country in October were the beginning of the end for Braverman.
Calling on the police to carry the Palestinian flag and to consider the slogan “From river to sea, Palestine will be free” as support for terrorism in the marches initiated to protest Israel’s response to the October 7 attacks, Braverman also used the expression “hate march” for pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Braverman, who wanted the fifth Palestine support march in London to be canceled on the grounds that it coincided with the Armistice Day ceremonies held on the anniversary of the armistice signed between the allies and Germany at the end of the First World War, also called on the police to stop the march.
However, although the police announced that they would not cancel the march due to the lack of sufficient legal justification and the distance and time difference between the two events, they requested a postponement from the organizers.
In his article for the Times newspaper, Braverman criticized the police’s attitude and accused the police of applying double standards when it comes to Palestine.
Regarding the marches, he said, “I do not believe that they are a cry for help for Gaza.” Using the statement, Braverman claimed that some of the banners were “sick, provocative and criminal” in his X post after the march on November 11.
Braverman received criticism from both the government and the opposition for the statements he used against the police and activists.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt and Secretary of State for the Armed Forces James Heappey said: “These are not words I would use.” While making his statement, main opposition leader Keir Starmer said that Braverman should be dismissed.
The demand for Braverman’s resignation or dismissal was also voiced at marches in support of Palestine.
Immediate family members served in the IDF
Braverman’s unconditional support for Israel and the country’s Jewish community was also criticized by the society.
Braverman, whose wife is also Jewish, stated in a past interview with a Jewish newspaper that his close family members served in the Israeli army.