The Home Secretary faces growing criticism over remarks deemed racially insensitive, with calls for action from former colleagues.
Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, is facing increased scrutiny and condemnation over her comments, which have been described as racially charged. Several former senior Conservative ministers have spoken out against her remarks, calling them "racist rhetoric" and urging Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to take action.
One former minister from Boris Johnson’s government, who wished to remain anonymous, labelled Braverman a "real racist bigot" and expressed concern that her comments were damaging the reputation of both the country and the Conservative Party. The minister added that the party’s standing on issues of discrimination had reached a "new low".
Braverman’s comments on April 2, in which she highlighted British Pakistani men as a primary concern in relation to grooming gangs, attracted significant backlash. She referred to specific cases in towns such as Rotherham and Rochdale and suggested that certain ethnic groups, particularly British Pakistani men, held cultural values incompatible with British norms, citing the treatment of women as one example.
In October, Braverman was also criticised for using the term "invasion" to describe the influx of migrants crossing the Channel. These remarks, combined with a recent incident involving offensive dolls in an Essex pub, have led to further controversy. On April 4, police seized several golly dolls from the White Hart Inn in Grays, Essex, as part of an investigation into a hate crime allegation. A Home Office source reportedly dismissed the police involvement, stating it was a "nonsense" issue that should not distract from criminal matters.
Tory peer Sayeeda Warsi condemned Braverman’s rhetoric in a piece for the Guardian, urging Prime Minister Sunak to take responsibility. Warsi expressed disappointment, especially given the diversity of the current cabinet. She emphasised that, as the first Prime Minister of an ethnic minority background, Sunak should not allow his government to be remembered for tolerating such language. While Warsi does not believe Sunak shares Braverman’s extreme views, she pointed out that the responsibility ultimately rests with him as party leader.
Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, chair of the Defence Select Committee, also distanced himself from Braverman’s comments, saying they were not in line with the party's current approach. He expressed concern that such remarks might alienate a wider public, especially as the Prime Minister seeks to steer the party towards a more cooperative and pragmatic stance.
In response, a Home Office spokesperson defended Braverman’s remarks, asserting that the Home Secretary was simply addressing the issue of grooming gangs and the need for justice for victims. The spokesperson acknowledged that while the majority of British-Pakistanis are law-abiding citizens, independent reports had confirmed that in towns like Rochdale and Rotherham, cultural sensitivities had allowed the abuse of young girls to continue unchecked for years. The government has introduced measures such as a new police task force to prevent such abuses in the future and ensure that offenders are held accountable.
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