LONDON (dpa-AFX) – The new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has drawn criticism for the appointment of Interior Minister Suella Braverman, who recently left the office for breaking the rules. Top Cabinet Office official Simon Case was “angry,” the Times reported on Wednesday, citing inside sources.
The deputy leader of the opposition Labor party, Angela Rayner, criticized: “The new prime minister is putting his party leadership above government in the national interest, even if he is hiring a home secretary who only had to resign last week for breaching security rules.” The Liberal Democrats called for an independent investigation into the appointment.
Braverman resigned from the cabinet the day before Sunak’s predecessor, Liz Truss, resigned after she forwarded an official document containing her private email address, contrary to ministerial rules. Braverman, from the party’s right wing, represents an extremely hardline on immigration policy. The fact that Sunak has now brought the politician into his cabinet is seen as a concession to the right-wing fringe of the party.
It is also rumored that Braverman may have made the post a condition of her support of Sunak in the Downing Street race. The fact that the right wing of the party backed the 42-year-old over the weekend ended Boris Johnson’s prospects of a comeback as prime minister. After taking office, Sunak promised to lead the government with integrity and to restore trust.
Secretary of State James Cleverly defended the personnel. The citizens want the government to secure the borders and limit migration, and Braverman has very clear ideas for this. “The prime minister wants it delivered,” said Cleverly in the BBC interview./swe/DP/zb