THE Home Secretary has been accused of a “cowardly attack” on civil servants – allegedly claiming they are part of a left-wing “blob” trying to stop her draconian immigration laws.
Suella Braverman has denied being involved with or approving an email sent to Conservative Party members which accused an “an activist blob of left-wing lawyers, civil servants and the Labour Party” from blocking her previous immigration policies.
The head of the civil servants’ union has written to the Prime Minister to demand an apology from Braverman, accusing her of sanctioning the email with its full-throated attack on officials – who are supposed to be impartial.
Dave Penman, the general secretary of the FDA union, said: “Not only is this statement factually incorrect, but the tone of that paragraph and the brigading of civil servants with the Labour Party and ‘left-wing lawyers’ is a direct attack on the integrity and impartiality of the thousands of civil servants who loyally serve the Home Secretary, doing some of the most complex and difficult work in government.
SCOOP: FDA boss Dave Penman writes to Rishi Sunak demanding an apology after Suella Braverman accused civil servants of being part of a “left-wing blob” blocking govt attempts to stop small boats. Also says she’s broken the ministerial code. pic.twitter.com/CL1fXd1cLm
— Kevin Schofield (@KevinASchofield) March 8, 2023
“This cowardly attack on civil servants, whom the Home Secretary knows are unable to publicly defend themselves, also risks further stoking tensions over a matter which has previously resulted in violent clashes with protesters.”
Protesters targeted the Home Office’s Marsham Street office in June last year, The Independent reported, over the Government’s controversial Rwanda plan. It is not known whether that protest resulted in “violent clashes”.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s press secretary told reporters: “She did not see, sign off or sanction that email being sent out.”
She directed further questions to the Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ), suggesting there had been “operational issues” around the message being sent that “we’ll have to review”.
“Obviously there would have to be ministerial sign-off usually on things where their name is included on it or it goes out in their name,” the press secretary said, suggesting that on this occasion the process was not followed.
Braverman “had a busy day” launching the Government’s Illegal Migration Bill designed to stop small boats crossing the Channel, she added.
Asked if CCHQ had apologised to the Home Secretary for the email, the press secretary said she was not aware of any “conversations” with Braverman.
