Suella Braverman stirs up Tory 'civil war' over anti-Palestine bias
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UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman causes a stir in the Tory party as two factions fight over whether she should remain or leave.
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Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hosts a policing roundtable at 10 Downing Street, London, October 12, 2023. (AP)
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is up against the ropes as his Tory Party is split into two warring factions that are at each other's throats over whether Home Secretary Suella Braverman should be sacked for defying the cabinet or remain in it as some officials say the whole thing was orchestrated by a fellow Tory.
Allies of the Home Secretary said more than 50 MPs were on her side, attempting to help her keep her post, a day ahead of the biggest day of mass protests in the UK in support of the Palestinian people and against the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
Some MPs are claiming the whole debacle was fabricated by chief whip Simon Hart who is trying to oust her.
This comes at a time when moderates among the ranks of the Tory party are angered by Braverman's remarks which stoked tensions before pro-Palestinian rallies, wherein she said the police should deal with them more sternly, while also publishing a highly controversial piece on The Times.
Braverman submitted her piece to the biggest newspaper in the United Kingdom without making the changes requested by Downing Street, which drew the ire of many Conservatives, namely the moderate ones.
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"The home secretary emphasised her full backing for the police in what will be a complex and challenging situation and expressed confidence that any criminality will be dealt with robustly," a source close to Braverman said, as quoted by The Guardian.
Protests ongoing despite threat of ban
Demonstrations have been roaming the streets of England for weeks now, since the Israeli occupation started its onslaught on the Gaza Strip, which has thus far claimed over 10,000 lives, with the demonstrations being largely peaceful in nature.
Braverman, meanwhile, has accused London's Metropolitan Police of "playing favorites" for not cracking down on pro-Palestine protests.
The London police are permitting "pro-Palestine mobs" while often restricting right-wing protests.
Baverman said that pro-Palestine demonstrations are "problematic" because of "violence around the fringes" and "highly offensive" chants. She had previously claimed that chants such as "From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free," call for the extermination of Jewish settlers in occupied Palestine.
The UK Home Secretary has also questioned the true intent of protests, claiming, "I do not believe that these marches are merely a cry for help for Gaza." She has also alleged that the organizers have links to "terrorist groups" such as Hamas.
Western officials such as Braverman have worked to demonize individuals and groups who call for the liberation of Palestine from Zionist occupation, saying that such justified demands are "anti-semitic".
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In light of this, Tory moderates are dissatisfied with how Sunak dealt with his home secretary, criticizing his lack of decisiveness as Braverman shows paramount dissent as she tried to ban charities from giving tents to the homeless and even with regards to the issue of the pro-Palestine protests.
Braverman out?
Some officials speculate that Braverman might be removed within weeks in a reshuffle unless she quits first, due to how she is going against the government.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and senior minister Robert Halfon declined to express confidence in Braverman, prompting speculation about her future.
Several senior MPs criticized attempts to restrict pro-Palestinian protests on Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.
Former Brexit Secretary David Davis emphasized the importance of the right to protest and freedom of speech, questioning the home secretary's handling of the situation.
Amidst calls for Braverman's dismissal, an ally revealed support from 52 MPs in hard-right Tory groups, promising to stand by her if Sunak attempts to sack her for defying government policies.
Some MPs threatened to resign if Braverman is dismissed, with plans to write letters for a vote of no confidence in the prime minister.
One MP asserted that Braverman's removal would be unsustainable, expressing concerns about stifling "diverse" voices in the cabinet, as some call her views mainstream.
