Rabbi Romain defends home secretary Braverman as a ‘refreshing difference’

Rabbi Jonathan Romain has leapt to the defence of the new home secretary  claiming it is a “refreshing difference” to see her own up to her mistake of a data breach under former Prime Minister Liz Truss

On Tuesday, Suella Braverman was controversially re-appointed into the home secretary’s role by new PM Rishi Sunak.

Sunak justified his decision telling MPs in the Commons on Wednesday: “The home secretary made an error of judgment but she recognised that, she raised the matter and she accepted her mistake.”

Appearing on LBC to discuss the matter with presenter Iain Dale, controversial Maidenhead Synagogue rabbi Romain said it was “absolutely true” Braverman had made a mistake, but she had “owned up to it immediately…”

He then added: “What a refreshing difference from so many other people we have seen over the last three or four years.

“All credit to her. Having paid the price and not having expected to come back into cabinet so quickly, she actually has come back.”

Dale pointed out that “normally when you resign you do not come back until you’ve won your seat in a general election.”

The rabbi then denied he was “holding a candle out to Suella Braverman.”

Dale responded: “Sounds like it to me.”

In her resignation letter to Truss, Braverman hinted at disagreements over immigration policy expressing concern that the government was not delivering on commitments to tackle illegal migration.

In a further observation Romain noted how both Braverman and Sunak came from immigrant family backgrounds, as, he said, did he.

The rabbi said: “There might have been an expectation amongst some that people who are from immigrant families would therefore be more compassionate to current immigrants.”

He added: “Clearly they are not taking that attitude… they see themselves as British.

“They don’t see themselves as in the American system, partly American, Afro-American Jewish-American whatever it is.

“I don’t particularly agree with her policy, it’s just fascinating to see the change in dynamics we have got.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused the new PM of doing a “grubby deal” with Ms Braverman to secure her support in the recent Tory leadership contest.

He also asked if officials had raised concern over the appointment.

Sunak avoided the question but argued bringing Ms Braverman back into cabinet brought “experience and stability” to government.

A No 10 spokesperson later denied reports that Simon Case – the head of the civil service – had been “livid” about the appointment.

After facing some criticism for his comments on the radio Romain later tweeted: “Yes, it did sound like I was defending Braverman, but actually I was trying to make a more general point (obviously badly) that people make mistakes (in politics, at work, in relationships) and if they have apologised/paid a penalty, we should allow them to move on if appropriate.”