Calls have been made for Rishi Sunak to dismiss Suella Braverman after she leveled criticism at the Metropolitan Police for alleged favoritism in dealing with contentious protests.
In her piece, the home secretary repeated her labeling of pro-Palestinian demonstrators as “hate marchers” and suggested that the marches were not simply about supporting Gaza, but were, in her view, a display of dominance by particular groups, notably Islamists, similar to sectarian displays in Northern Ireland.
The interior minister further implied a connection between some organizers of the recent pro-Palestinian marches and terrorist groups such as Hamas.
Braverman also criticized the Metropolitan Police for what she sees as a biased tolerance of left-wing protests compared to those on the right, particularly as they permitted a pro-Palestine march on Armistice Day.
Jonathan Reynolds, Labour’s shadow business secretary, condemned Braverman’s conduct as reckless and divisive and urged Prime Minister Sunak to remove her if he had not approved her article.
He questioned Sunak’s approval of Braverman’s statements and the implications for national security and public safety.
Sky News has verified that Downing Street did not fully endorse Braverman’s commentary, noting that while the article was shared with Number 10 and modifications were suggested, those changes were not implemented.
The Liberal Democrats joined Labour in their appeal for Braverman’s dismissal, with their leader Sir Ed Davey claiming that her words and actions could escalate unrest and pose a danger to police officers.
Sir Mark Rowley, the police commissioner, confirmed that the upcoming demonstration was permitted to proceed because it did not meet the “legal threshold” to be halted on security grounds.
The death toll from Israeli shelling on the Gaza Strip has risen to 10,569 after a month since the war began. Among the 10,569 victims, there are 4,324 children, 2,823 women, and 649 elderly.