Suella Braverman has insisted “nothing untoward happened” in the row over her speeding ticket – but said she “regrets” breaking the speed limit.
The Home Secretary is battling to save her job following claims she asked officials to see if she could do a private speed awareness course after being caught speeding last summer.
She has since accepted the points on her licence and paid the fine.
Ms Braverman did not deny asking civil servants to enlist her on a private speed awareness course when grilled by broadcasters today.
Asked if she asked officials to arrange a one-to-one course, 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.”
Pressed again, she said: “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.”
(
Phil Harris)
Rishi Sunak spoke to his ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus over the row this morning after jetting back from the G7 summit in Japan into a fresh crisis.
Downing Street refused to say whether Mr Sunak had spoken to the Home Secretary so far today.
The PM’s spokesman said “of course” Tory special advisers should tell the truth to journalists after one of Mrs Braverman’s aides repeatedly denied she had been caught speeding when contacted by the Mirror.
The adviser told the Mirror it was untrue that she had committed a speeding offence when we contacted her office six weeks ago.
The aide claimed it was “nonsense” and said someone was spreading “scurrilous” rumours about her.
The FOUR TIMES Suella Braverman’s aide denied she’d been done for speeding – transcript
Mirror reporter: “So it’s completely untrue? She’s not been done for speeding, it’s completely wrong? Or it’s just the bit about the speed awareness course that is wrong?”
Braverman aide: “So what are you asking sorry?”
MR: “So she’s not been done for speeding?”
BA: “When has she been done for speeding? There’s nothing like that.”
MR: “Pardon?”
BA: “When has she been done for speeding? It’s nothing like that.”
MR: “There’s nothing like that?”
BA: “When has she been done for speeding?”
MR: “I don’t know the exact date.”
BA: “Oh mate, this is just nonsense, honestly.”
MR: “So you’re saying there’s absolutely nothing here at all?”
BA: “No.”
Telephone conversation on April 4.
But Ms Braverman has since admitted that it is indeed true that she was caught speeding.
This breaking story is being updated…