Home secretary Suella Braverman is under mounting pressure over her handling of a speeding offence. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has told MPs that he would update on any response to the allegations facing Mrs Braverman “in due course”.
The Prime Minister said that he had met with Sir Laurie Magnus, Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests, and the Home Secretary, amid reports she asked officials to try to arrange a private speed awareness course for her rather than take penalty points on her driving licence. Mr Sunak is considering whether to order an investigation into allegations the Home Secretary breached the ministerial code by asking taxpayer-funded officials to assist with a private matter.
The Home Secretary insisted she had not sought to evade a sanction for speeding, and Downing Street said Mr Sunak still had confidence in her.
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Commenting on the row, Mrs Braverman did not deny asking civil servants to intervene. Asked directly if she asked officials to arrange a one-to-one course for her, she said: “Last summer, I was speeding. I regret that. I paid the fine and I took the points but we’re focused now on delivering for the British people and working for them.”
She added: "“In relation to the process, I’m focused on delivering for the British people, doing my job as Home Secretary and what I will say is that, in my view, I’m confident that nothing untoward has happened."
Mr Sunak has spoken to his ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus about Mrs Braverman, Downing Street said. No formal inquiry has yet been launched into whether she breached the ministerial code, it is understood.
The Prime Minister told MPs: “I have always been clear that where issues like this are raised, they should be dealt with properly and they should be dealt with professionally. Since I have returned from the G7, I have been receiving information on the issues raised, I have met with both the independent adviser and the Home Secretary. I have asked for further information and I will update on the appropriate course of action in due course."
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Mrs Braverman should resign if she is found to have broken the ministerial code.
The row stems from Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday reports that Mrs Braverman asked Home Office civil servants to help arrange a one-to-one driving awareness course, rather than the group session usually offered to motorists for minor speeding offences.
Officials are said to have refused the request, so Mrs Braverman allegedly turned to a political aide to assist her in attempting to arrange an alternative to a course with members of the public. The speeding offence took place last year when Mrs Braverman was serving as attorney general.
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