Suella Braverman, former Home Secretary of the United Kingdom, issued a stark warning to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, asserting that the Conservative Party, under his leadership, is on the brink of "electoral oblivion" unless swift action is taken to address the pressing issue of illegal immigration. Braverman, in her first formal speech since her Cabinet dismissal, emphasized the urgent need for a robust crackdown on illegal migrants, citing concerns over public finances, community cohesion, and national security.
Braverman's impassioned plea centres around the pressing need to implement the Rwanda strategy—a stringent approach to deporting illegal migrants to the East African country. She urged Sunak to introduce stringent legislation to enforce this strategy, portraying it as a pivotal measure to alleviate the unsustainable pressure on public resources and services. The former Home Secretary contends that the influx of tens of thousands, mainly young men with values conflicting with British norms, is a crisis demanding immediate attention.
The Challenge to Sunak's Leadership
In what is perceived as a direct challenge to Sunak's leadership, Braverman advocates for the Conservative Party to confront the issue head-on. She warns that failure to introduce robust legislation to enforce the Rwanda strategy would lead to electoral disaster for the party.
The question posed by Braverman is stark: “It is now or never; the Conservative Party faces electoral oblivion in a matter of months if we introduce yet another bill destined to fail. Do we fight for sovereignty, or do we let our party die?.”
Deep Divisions and Necessary Action
Acknowledging the deep divisions within the Tory ranks, Braverman asserts that previous attempts to address illegal migration have failed due to the expansive interpretation of human rights laws. She calls for the UK's exit from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), arguing that these laws hinder the effective implementation of the Rwanda plan.
The Rwanda Plan: Key to Immigration Control
The so-called Rwanda plan, initially proposed by former Home Secretary Priti Patel and championed by Braverman, stands as a crucial component of the Conservative government's strategy to curb soaring immigration figures. Braverman's successor, James Cleverly, recently signed a new treaty in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, aiming to address concerns raised by the UK Supreme Court.
Suella Braverman To PM Sunak
My letter to the Prime Minister pic.twitter.com/7OBzaZnxr2
— Suella Braverman MP (@SuellaBraverman) November 14, 2023
Braverman was fired from the position of Home Minister after an article written by her was published in The Times, where she alleged that the London police had been biased towards pro-Palestinian mobs that allegedly threatened the Jewish community.
In her letter, she wrote that the Rishi Sunak government has failed to rise to the challenges posed by antisemitism and extremism displayed in the UK since the Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7. She alleged that she warned the Prime Minister to ban "hate marches" to curb "the rising tide of racism, intimidation, and terrorist glorification threatening community cohesion" in the country and claimed that Sunak's response has been weak and "lacking the qualities of leadership that this country needs."
Braverman appointed the Home Minister in October 2022, wrote that she agreed to work with him on certain conditions. "Despite you having been rejected by a majority of Party members during the summer leadership contest and thus having no personal mandate to be Prime Minister, I agreed to support you because of the firm assurances you gave me on the key policy priorities," she wrote.
Braverman wrote about four policies that she was assured of reduction of illegal migration, stopping the migrant boats from crossing the English Channel, issuing statutory guidance to schools on the protection of biological sex, and delivering on the North Ireland protocol.
She also stated that she sent numerous letters to his office proposing key subjects such as policy details, legal advice and action plans to deliver those policies, but she was met with "equivocation, disregard, and lack of interest." She wrote, "Either your distinctive style of government means you are incapable of doing so. Or, as I must surely conclude now, you never had any intention of keeping your promises."
Braverman wrote that her support was a pivotal factor that led Sunak to win the election and thus enabled him to become the Prime Minister. "I trusted you," she wrote, adding that he has failed to deliver on every single one of those key policies. "Our deal was no mere promise over dinner, to be discarded when convenient and denied when challenged," she added.
Disregarded Cautions Mentioned In Letter
Suella Braverman's letter spoke of the much-anticipated Supreme Court ruling expected on November 15, on the legality of the government's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda and described Prime Minister Sunak's rejection of the withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights as a way to push through the scheme as "a betrayal to the nation.".
She further wrote that at every stage of litigation, she cautioned the Party to "not assume we would win," and repeatedly urged the Prime Minister to take legislative measures to secure them against defeat, but her arguments were allegedly ignored. "You opted 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," she wrote.
She also accused the Prime Minister of not having a credible 'Plan B' in the event of defeat. "I can only surmise that this is because you have no appetite for doing what is necessary and therefore no real intention of fulfilling your pledge to the British people," she alleged.
Braverman concluded the letter by stating that Sunak has sought to put off tough decisions to minimise political risk. "Someone needs to be brave; your plan is not working," she wrote, adding that she will continue to support the government in pursuit of policies which align with her conservative agenda.
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