New Delhi: The opposition party Liberal Democrats have demanded a Cabinet Office probe into the reappointment of Suella Braveman as Home Secretary, one week after she was forced to resign for breaching the ministerial code, BBC reported. Braveman’s reappointment came hours after Sunak pledged to lead the Conservative party with “integrity professionalism and accountability”.
Liberal Democrats home affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said: "Suella Braverman's appointment makes a mockery of Rishi Sunak's claims to be bringing integrity to Number 10,” BBC reported. "There must be a full independent inquiry by the Cabinet Office into her appointment, including any promises Sunak made to her behind closed doors."
Carmichael said that Braverman should be sacked if it is confirmed she "repeatedly broke the ministerial code and threatened national security", adding: "A Home Secretary who broke the rules is not fit for a Home Office which keeps the rules." Braveman’s reappointment as Home Secretary has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum in the United Kingdom.
"Rishi Sunak at lunchtime: 'This government will have integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level'. Rishi Sunak in afternoon: 're-appoints Suella Braverman as Home Sec, after breaching official ministerial rules & "dreaming" of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda'," tweeted Caroline Lucas, a Member of Parliament.
"Appointing Suella Braverman as Home secretary just days after she was sacked for a security breach doesn't smack of integrity, competence, professionalism or sensible politics. It's just cynical manoeuvring. This PM's no better than the last two" tweeted Labour MP, Chris Bryant.
Last week, Braverman tendered her resignation, citing "technical infringement of the rules" she committed while sending official documents to a parliamentary colleague.
"Pretending we haven't made mistakes, carrying on as if everyone can't see that we have made them, and hoping that things will magically come right is not serious politics. I have made a mistake, I accept responsibility; I resign," Braverman said in a letter posted on her Twitter handle.
In the letter addressed to the UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, she also expressed concerns about the direction of the government and said key pledges made to voters have been broken.
Recently, Braverman in an interview talked about "reservations" over the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India and linked it to illegal immigration. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said India and UK are interested to conclude the FTA at the earliest as intensive discussions are underway keeping in view that it proves to be a win-win situation for both sides.
"There is interest in both sides to conclude the FTA at the earliest. Diwali has been set as a goal. Intensive discussions are underway towards this and they are continuing," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.
Braverman was appointed as the UK's Home Secretary this year, replacing fellow colleague Priti Patel who is also of Indian descent. Liz Truss, who took over as UK Prime Minister last month, had appointed Suella Braverman as her Home Secretary. Suella Braverman was previously Attorney General between 2020-2022.
(With agencies’ Inputs)