Suella Braverman is battling for her political life over claims she tried to get special treatment when she was caught speeding.
Rishi Sunak is expected to consult his ethics advisor Sir Laurie Magnus today over claims the under-fire Home Secretary tried to get civil servants and then a political aide to help her arrange a private one-to-one speed awareness course.
Labour leader Keir Starmer demanded a probe into the affair - and said the top Tory must go if she was found to have broken the ministerial code.
Mrs Braverman was fined and given points on her licence after she was caught driving over the speed limit last summer.
But it is alleged that she sought advice from officials on whether she could enlist on a private course, which could be a breach of the ministerial code as civil servants are not supposed to provide advice on personal matters.
Mrs Braverman’s advisor told the Mirror it was untrue that she had committed a speeding offence when we contacted her office six weeks ago.
The Tory special adviser denied FOUR TIMES that the Home Secretary had been caught speeding and claimed it was “nonsense”.
The aide claimed someone was spreading “scurrilous” rumours about her.
Mrs Braverman is due to appear at the regular Home Office questions in the Commons this afternoon where she could face a grilling from MPs.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle could also grant an urgent question on the matter in Parliament.
She declined to comment to reporters outside her house this morning.
The Prime Minister, who has been at the G7 summit in Japan in recent days, jets back into a political storm today.
He became visibly irritated when asked about the row engulfing Mrs Braverman but told reporters: “I understand she has expressed regret for speeding, accepted the penalty and paid the fine.”
No10 later confirmed that Mr Sunak will meet Sir Laurie today to discuss the row.
"The Prime Minister has always followed the proper process in these matters, and will consult the independent adviser upon his return to London," a source said.
Mr Starmer said she should resign if she is found to have breached the ministerial code.
He told Good Morning Britain: "I don't know all the facts but it looks to me as though the Home Secretary's actions were inappropriate and they should be investigated."
The Labour leader stopped short of calling for Ms Braverman to resign but said: "I think if she's breached the ministerial code she should go...in the end it's the ministerial code that matters."
Former top civil servant Philip Rycroft said it appeared to break the rules governing ministerial conduct.
He told the BBC's Westminster Hour: “This on the face of it I think is a breach of the ministerial code. Obviously, there’s still investigations to be done and so on but the code is very clear.
"Ministers must ensure that no conflict arises or appears to arise between their public duties and their private interests.
"Even asking a question of a civil servant as to how she might go on one of these courses puts them in an impossible position.
"And for somebody, you know who wakes up in the morning and sees a future Prime Minister this is a real lapse of judgement."
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “Breaking the ministerial code doesn't appear so much to be a lapse of judgement as of a pattern of behaviour.
“Suella Braverman is quick to criticise civil servants when it suits her, but even quicker to ask for their help when she needs it.
"Civil servants' role is to deliver government policy not to act as her personal assistants.
"How many more lives will Rishi Sunak give her? This is double standards. If she was a PCS member she would not expect to be treated so leniently.”
Mr Sunak vowed to restore integrity to Government following the chaos and scandal that dogged his predecessors Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.
But since taking office in October, Gavin Williamson and Dominic Raab have both resigned amid bullying allegations. Mr Sunak also sacked Nadhim Zahawi following a row over his tax affairs.
Mrs Braverman was forced to quit as Home Secretary days before Ms Truss's premiership collapsed after she sent an official document from her personal email.
But Mr Sunak brought her back to the Home Office days later.
