Suella Braverman accuses cops of ‘playing favourites’ by refusing to ban pro-Palestinian march on Armistice Day
SUELLA Braverman sparked a fresh cabinet row today as she accused cops of “playing favourites” by refusing to ban a Gaza march on Armistice Day.
The Home Secretary lashed out at Met chiefs, claiming they are deliberately tougher on right wing protestors than “politically-connected minority groups who are favoured by the left”.
Writing in The Times, Ms Braverman said: “Unfortunately, there is a perception that senior police officers play favourites when it comes to protesters.
“During Covid, why was it that lockdown objectors were given no quarter by public order police yet Black Lives Matters demonstrators were enabled, allowed to break rules and even greeted with officers taking the knee?
“Right-wing and nationalist protesters who engage in aggression are rightly met with a stern response yet pro-Palestinian mobs displaying almost identical behaviour are largely ignored, even when clearly breaking the law?”
The Home Secretary added she’s spoken to serving and former officers who have “noted this double standard”.
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Within hours of making the accusation Tory MPs and ministers scrambled to distance themselves from it.
No10 refused to confirm whether the comments were signed off by Rishi Sunak.
It comes just days after the PM refused to say whether he agreed with Ms Braverman that rough sleepers should be banned from living in tents.
The idea split the Cabinet and sent some ministers into meltdown.
This morning Transport Secretary Mark Harper told Times Radio he disagrees that the Met play favourites.
He said: “I think all police forces are focused on upholding the law without fear or favour.
“That’s what they do.”
Asked whether he agreed with the Home Secretary’s remark, he said: “I’m not going to indulge in textual analysis of her article.”
He added the police have been “focusing very hard on making sure that we don’t see any disturbance and disorder” at remembrance events this weekend.
Many Tory MPs now believe Ms Braverman is being deliberately provocative in order to get fired from the cabinet so she can launch a leadership bid.
One minister told The Sun: “I expect she wishes to go out, one way or another, in a blaze of right wing glory.
“She believes the boats can’t be stopped within the ECHR, so she will be looking to avoid blame and come back later.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan accused Ms Braverman of pitting minority groups against each other.
He said: “The Home Secretary’s article in The Times is inaccurate, inflammatory and irresponsible.
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“At a time when we should be seeking to unite communities – she is dividing them.
“The Home Secretary should support the police to keep everyone safe at this delicate time, not make their job harder.”