Suella Braverman: Why is the home secretary causing a stir and why is she facing questions over migration centres?
After becoming the new prime minister last week, Rishi Sunak made the controversial decision to appoint Suella Braverman as his home secretary – just six days after she had quit the role for breaking the ministerial code.
A week on, and questions are still being asked about why the PM brought her back after the breach, as well as whether her own performance in the job had contributed to dire conditions in a migration centre in Kent.
Here is what we know:
Why did she quit in the first place?
Ms Braverman was appointed by Liz Truss in September to take over the Home Office after securing some significant backing in the summer’s leadership contest.
But her tenure as home secretary came to end after she broke with security protocols by forwarding an official document to her personal email, and then sent it onto a fellow MP, copying in a parliamentary staffer by accident.
The document was a draft written statement on migration that was deemed highly sensitive as it related to immigration rules, which could have major implications for market-sensitive growth forecasts.
Much of the draft had been briefed to MPs but it was a serious breach of the ministerial code on two accounts – for sharing a statement ahead of time and sending it from a personal account.
Former barrister and ex-attorney general Ms Braverman agreed to quit – then published a scathing resignation letter to Ms Truss, in which she hinted the then PM should go as well over mistakes made during her premiership.
Suella Braverman’s resignation letter to Liz truss was scathing of her government
“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,” she wrote.
“I have made a mistake; I accept responsibility; I resign.”
She also used her letter to raise concerns about the government, saying it had “broken key pledges” and she had “serious concerns” about the government’s commitment to honouring manifesto commitments, especially on immigration.
Re-appointment criticism
Ms Braverman’s re-appointment by Mr Sunak less than a week later was criticised by opposition MPs and a former sleaze watchdog.
The new prime minister hired her after promising to lead the Conservative Party with “integrity, professionalism and accountability”.
But Labour accused him of doing a “grubby deal” instead to ensure the right wing of his party – where Ms Braverman is a key figure – would support him to take over Number 10, “trading security for support”.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has written to cabinet secretary Simon Case, who determined a security breach had happened, demanding a full investigation.
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Michael Gove defended Suella Braverman, saying she is a ‘first-rate, front-rank politician’ who ‘acknowledged a mistake had been made’.
And Alistair Graham, former chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said there were questions over whether her appointment was appropriate, especially because the breach was not examined by an ethics adviser.
“Normally the prime minister would have consulted a ministerial adviser for advice,” he said.
“A breach of the ministerial code is seen as a serious matter and would make any minister an inappropriate appointment to one of the four most senior positions in government.”
However, Mr Sunak has stood by the appointment and Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove insisted to Sky News that Ms Braverman was a “first-rate, front-rank politician” who deserved to be back in cabinet.
On Monday, Ms Braverman sent a lengthy letter to the Home Affairs Select Committee to address issues related to her resignation, in which she set out in detail the timetable of what happened.
In it, she revealed that a Home Office review into her communications showed she had sent official documents from her government email to her private one on six occasions in the six weeks she was in the role.
“The review confirmed that all of these occasions occurred in circumstances when I was conducting Home Office meetings virtually or related to public lines to take in interviews,” she wrote.
She also said that before her reappointment she “gave the prime minister assurances” she would not use her personal email for official business and “reaffirmed my understanding of and adherence to the ministerial code”.
Manston chaos
While the row rages on about whether she should have been brought back, another argument is brewing over the treatment of people being housed at the Manston migration centre in Kent.
Last week, a Home Affairs Select Committee heard conditions at Manston were “wretched”, with overcrowding, outbreaks of diseases and people being held for weeks longer than the 24 hours intended.
The home secretary’s judgement has now been called into question after a report in The Times claimed she blocked the transfer of asylum seekers to new hotels and ignored legal advice that the government was illegally detaining people at the centre.
Local Tory MP Sir Roger Gale said the situation at Manston was a “breach of humane conditions”, with the facility holding 4,000 people when it is only designed to hold 1,000.
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Conservative MP for North Thanet Sir Roger Gale has told Sky News that the situation in the Manston migrant centre is a ‘breach of humane conditions’.
He said the circumstances “were a problem made in the Home Office”, saying within five weeks the system had been “broken – and it’s got to be mended fast”.
Sir Roger did not point the finger directly at Ms Braverman, saying “whoever is responsible, either the previous home secretary or this one, has to be held to account”.
But sources close to her predecessor, Priti Patel, told Sky News she signed off transfers from holding centres to hotels throughout the summer as she had a statutory duty to do so.
Labour’s Ms Cooper also claimed there had been “a failure to make decisions” within the government, causing the problems, and that Ms Braverman needed to make a statement.
Rwanda and reducing immigration
The home secretary’s return to government has also raised questions about Mr Sunak’s immigration plans and whether he made a deal with her to get her support.
She wants to keep net migration to “tens of thousands” and is keen on reducing overall migration, as stipulated in the 2019 Tory manifesto.
However, Mr Sunak is under pressure from business to ease migration rules to help fill job vacancies and boost growth.
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Home Sec to make Rwanda plan ‘work’
One of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s main strategies to restore market confidence is to loosen some of those immigration rules so forecasts will have the government hitting growth targets.
But both Mrs Braverman and Mr Sunak are supporters of the Rwanda policy to deport Channel migrants to the east African country.
Mr Sunak said he would do “whatever it takes” to ensure the scheme worked while Mrs Braverman said it is her “dream” and “obsession” to see the first flight take off for Rwanda.
Thousands crossing the Channel
Pressure is also piling on the Home Office to act over the record of number of people who continue to cross the channel, with 1,000 arriving on Sunday.
The department is already grappling with a 100,000 backlog in processing asylum applications, with 96% of those from last year still outstanding.
On Sunday, refugee charities wrote to the home secretary demanding the government create more safe routes to the UK as a solution to stopping the dangerous small boat crossings.
UK
Crown Prosecution Service acknowledges it twice failed to prosecute Mohamed al Fayed over sex abuse claims
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has acknowledged it had twice failed to bring charges against Mohamed al Fayed for sexual abuse.
The former Harrods owner, who died last year at the age of 94, was described as a “monster” earlier this week by lawyers representing alleged sexual abuse victims.
Women say he raped and sexually assaulted them while they worked at the luxury department store, and accused him of “cherry-picking” women to be brought to his executive suite.
As the legal team said they have heard more than 150 inquiries into Fayed’s alleged crimes, a CPS spokesperson has now said evidence against the Egyptian businessman was provided to prosecutors by the Metropolitan Police twice.
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‘I was terrified’: Alleged victim speaks out
In 2008, Fayed was accused of indecent assault against a 15-year-old girl, which he denied. The CPS did not prosecute the case when it was presented in 2009 over conflicting evidence.
He was then alleged to have raped a woman in 2013, which was reinvestigated by police in 2015 but did not lead to any charges.
While the CPS did review both files, the spokesperson said: “To bring a prosecution the CPS must be confident there is a realistic prospect of conviction – in each instance, our prosecutors looked carefully at the evidence and concluded this wasn’t the case.”
It marks the first time the service acknowledged the 2015 investigation. The CPS also provided the Met Police with early investigative advice for Fayed in 2018, 2021 and 2023.
Full evidence was never received for these instances and the police took no further action.
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‘Mohamed al Fayed brainwashed me’
It comes after the victims’ legal team confirmed on Saturday they had received “over 150 new inquiries” after a BBC documentary on Fayed aired.
It also follows the former head of royal protection saying he warned the Royal Family about Fayed’s reputation before Princess Diana took Prince Harry and Prince William on holiday with the businessman’s son.
Dai Davies told Sky News people were aware of the Egyptian businessman’s reputation as far back as the 1990s, and said: “This was a man who I would be concerned [about] if a relative of mine was going on holiday with him, let alone the future king and his brother and their mother, Princess Diana.”
Princess Diana, Prince William (right) and Prince Harry (left) in Saint Tropez on 14 July 1997. File pic: AP
He added he was “horrified” before the late princess went on holiday with Fayed and his wife to their residence in St Tropez in July 1997.
“I was aware that he had tried very hard to ingratiate himself with the Royal Family,” he said, “and obviously knowing, as I did, the reputation he was alleged [to have] then, I was concerned, and I took the opportunity to inform the Royal Family.”
Buckingham Palace told Sky News it had no comment on the allegations.
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Fulham FC, which was owned by Fayed between 1997 and 2013, also said it is “deeply troubled” by the dozens of “disturbing” sexual abuse allegations against the businessman.
Harrods said in a statement on Thursday it was “utterly appalled” by the allegations of abuse and apologised to Fayed’s alleged victims.
The department store has also set up a page on its website inviting former employees to come forward if they have allegations.
Anthony Joshua missed out on the chance to become a three-time heavyweight world champion after he was stopped by British rival Daniel Dubois in the fifth round.
Dubois, 27, knocked down Joshua towards the end of the opening round with an overhand right to the 34-year-old’s chin.
The IBF heavyweight champion then dropped Joshua at the end of round three and twice in the fourth.
A right hook ended the fight with a knockout for Dubois’ first defence of the title.
The fighters went toe to toe at London’s Wembley Stadium in front of a record 96,000 fans.
The 34-year-old was knocked down four times in the opening four rounds, and knocked out in the fifth. Pic: Reuters
Daniel Dubois became IBF champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the title. Pic: Reuters
‘We came up short’
Minutes after retaining the IBF championship, Dubois shouted to the crowd “are you not entertained?” before saying: “I’m a gladiator, you know?
“I’m just a warrior to the bitter end. I’m just ready to go. I want to go to the top level of this game and reach my potential. God bless you all.”
Joshua said the loss would not stop him from rebuilding despite admitting “we came up short”.
“You know I’m ready to kick off in the ring, but I’m going to keep my cool, keep very professional, and give respect to my opponent,” he said.
“I’m always saying to myself I’m a fighter for life… We keep rolling the dice. I had a sharp opponent, a fast opponent and a lot of mistakes from my end, but that’s the game.”
Dubois’ victory has sent a message to the whole heavyweight division
Daniel Dubois will feel like he has fulfilled his destiny here at Wembley. His father has trained him to be a champion boxer since he was tiny.
He held the IBF belt, but he has gone in there tonight and defended it in spectacular fashion – he is now in every conversation going forward.
What now for AJ? Can he face rebuilding? And will he even want to?
The Wembley ring walk is notoriously long, and Dubois looked nervous – but so did Joshua, who has done this many times before in front of a full house.
Perhaps he was thinking of what was at stake – the chance to be a three-time heavyweight champion of the world.
But 27-year-old Dubois holds the belt and was keen to prove he was a worthy champion quickly.
Many wondered if Dubois would freeze on the biggest stage: Question asked and answered emphatically.
It was a crushing defeat for Joshua – most were not expecting such a one-sided victory.
Dubois will now most likely take on the winner of Fury v Usyk 2 for all the belts. But the manner of his victory has sent a message to the whole heavyweight division.
Pic: PA
Pic: PA
Hearn: AJ will want rematch
Promoter Eddie Hearn then said “it was the first round” where Joshua lost, “after that he was fighting on heart and desire”.
Hearn added: “When you are in there with a massive puncher this is what can happen. He never stopped trying to get up, even when he couldn’t get up.
“Daniel deserves credit, he’s a real world champion. Congratulations to him… I’m sure [Joshua will] exercise that rematch clause, it’s a given, it’s a dangerous fight because he’s growing in confidence all the time but he’ll believe he can beat him.”
Pic: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire
British champion Dubois, who before tonight had never fought at Wembley, was elevated to the IBF title holder after Oleksandr Usyk relinquished the belt.
Joshua outweighed Dubois by four pounds, despite a career-heaviest weight for his rival, ahead of the fight.
Among those watching was Tyson Fury, the former WBC heavyweight champion, who took a ringside seat.
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Liam plays Oasis hits
Fury is set to fight Usyk for the other three titles in a rematch on 21 December.
Ahead of the fight, Liam Gallagher played some of Oasis’ biggest hits to the sold-out crowd.
Pic: PA
Pic: Reuters
The 52-year-old frontman walked on to a massive cheer and said “yes Wembley vibes in the air,” before launching into Rock ‘N’ Roll Star, Supersonic and Cigarettes & Alcohol.
He and Noel Gallagher will play Wembley for their first of seven reunion shows at the stadium on 25 July – 307 days away.
Other famous faces ringside were Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor, former boxer Ricky Hatton, Spice Girl Emma Bunton and Love Island presenter Maya Jama.
UK
Mohamed al Fayed: Former royal security head says he warned Royal Family before Diana went on holiday with businessman
The former head of royal protection says he warned the Royal Family about Mohamed al Fayed’s reputation before Princess Diana took her sons on holiday with him.
The former Harrods owner, who died last year at the age of 94, was described as a “monster” earlier this week by lawyers representing 37 alleged sexual abuse victims.
The women say he raped and sexually assaulted them while they worked at the luxury department store, prowling the shop floor and “cherry-picking” women to be brought to his executive suite.
Now, Mr Davies says people were aware of the Egyptian businessman’s reputation as far back as the 1990s, and that he raised concerns about him to the Royal Family.
Princess Diana on the quay of the residence of Mohamed al Fayed in Saint Tropez on 20 July 1997. File pic: AP
“This was a man who I would be concerned [about] if a relative of mine was going on holiday with him, let alone the future king and his brother and their mother, Princess Diana,” Dai Davies told Sky News.
Mohamed al Fayed during a match at Craven Cottage stadium in 2013: File pic: PA
In July 1997, a month before she died, Princess Diana went on holiday with Fayed and his wife to their residence in St Tropez.
She took the two young princes with her – a holiday Prince Harry described as “heaven” in his 2023 memoir Spare.
“I was horrified because I was aware of some of the allegations even then that were going around,” said Mr Davies.
“I was aware that he had tried very hard to ingratiate himself with the Royal Family and obviously knowing, as I did, the reputation he was alleged [to have] then, I was concerned, and I took the opportunity to inform the Royal Family.”
Princess Diana, Prince William (right) and Prince Harry (left) in Saint Tropez on 14 July 1997. File pic: AP
Mr Davies says he was told: “Her Majesty is aware.”
“The rest is history,” he said.
Buckingham Palace told Sky News it had no comment on the allegations.
Fulham ‘deeply disturbed’ by allegations
Fulham FC, a football club that was owned by Fayed between 1997 and 2013, has said it is “deeply troubled” by the dozens of “disturbing” sexual abuse allegations against the businessman.
The Premier League club also said it is “in the process of establishing whether anyone at the club is or has been affected” by this alleged behaviour.
Mohamed al Fayed waves a Fulham scarf in front of supporters in 2012. Pic: Reuters
However, Gaute Haugenes, who managed the club’s women’s team between 2001 and 2003, told the BBC extra precautions were taken to protect female players from Fayed.
“We were aware he liked young, blonde girls. So we just made sure that situations couldn’t occur. We protected the players.”
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‘The door was locked behind me’
A former Harrods employee told Sky News she was summoned to Fayed’s apartment when she began working for the department store at 19 years old.
She was told the meeting was a “job review” before “the door was locked behind me”.
“I saw his bedroom door partially open – there were sex toys on view,” she said.
“I felt petrified. I perched myself at the very end of the sofa and then… my boss, the person I worked for, pushed himself onto me.”
Read more: ‘One of the worst cases of corporate sexual exploitation’
Harrods said in a statement on Thursday it was “utterly appalled” by the allegations of abuse and apologised to Fayed’s alleged victims.
The department store has also set up a page on its website inviting former employees to come forward if they have allegations.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
The legal team involved in a civil claim against Harrods for allegedly failing to provide a safe system of work for its employees said they aimed to seek justice for the victims of a “vast web of abuse”.
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