Suella Braverman sacked as home secretary

Rishi Sunak has sacked Suella Braverman as his home secretary after her repeated interventions on the policing of pro-Palestine protests sparked widespread criticism.

The prime minister asked Braverman to “leave government” on Monday morning, and she accepted the decision, Downing Street sources confirmed.

It was confirmed that she was being replaced in the role by James Cleverly, who would move from the foreign secretary’s post.

Ahead of last Saturday’s latest Palestine demo in central London, Braverman had written a controversial op-ed for The Times newspaper, which suggested the Met Police were tougher on far-right extremists than they were on “pro-Palestinian mobs”.

It was the latest controversial intervention by the home secretary to spark obvious tensions with Sir Mark Rowley, the Met’s commissioner, and increasing claims she was undermining the operational independence of the police.

She had been under fire for inflaming tensions after she earlier branded pro-Palestinian protesters as “hate marchers”.

Senior government sources also accused Braverman of deliberately trying to undermine Sunak as PM, and furthering her own leadership ambitions.

On Sunday she claimed London’s streets are “being polluted by hate, violence and antisemitism”.

Braverman had proved to be a divisive figure for much of her time as Home Secretary.

In March, she sparked anger after using a speech at the CST annual dinner to attack the Board of Deputies after president Marie van der Zyl has criticised the government’s asylum policies around small boats.

Braverman secured the support of some sections of the community with her hardline approach to issues around antisemitism.

But others believed her tough talk achieved little, and sparked further division win society.

Braverman, the MP for Fareham, is now expected to attempt to win over support on the right of the Tory Party for a future leadership bid, if Sunak loses a general election.