Suella Braverman was unveiled as Nigel Farage’s latest Tory defector, launching a blistering attack on her old party and whining that the UK is ‘weak and humiliated’ on the world stage
Twice sacked Home Secretary Suella Braverman has become Nigel Farage’s latest Tory turncoat after crossing over to Reform.
The former Cabinet member was kicked out by Liz Truss for leaking confidential documents on a personal email, and then again by Rishi Sunak for an unauthorised attack on police chiefs.
She told a Reform rally in Westminster: “I feel like I’ve come home.” She now joins former underling Robert Jenrick, who was Immigration Minister in the Home Office when the use of asylum hotels was ramped up.
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In a prickly speech, Ms Braverman launched a scathing attack on the Tories, accusing them of having “no courage, no backbone, no resolve”. And she told an audience in London: “Honesty compels me to say this today – Britain is indeed broken. She is suffering. She is not well. Immigration is out of control.
“Our public services are on their knees. People don’t feel safe. Our youngsters are leaving the country for better futures elsewhere. We can’t even defend ourselves and our nation stands weak and humiliated on the world stage. So we stand at a crossroads.”
She went on: “When the cameras are off, when the doors are shut and when they’re sat behind that table making the difficult decisions for the country, they fold. When push comes to shove, they go AWOL.
“No courage, no backbone, no resolve.” Mrs Braverman, who has long been linked with a move to Reform, was kicked out of Cabinet a final time in 2023 when she accused police chiefs of “playing favourites” with pro-Palestinian marches.
She had previously sparked fury by branding homelessness a “lifestyle choice” in toxic comments as she demanded a crackdown on homeless people sleeping in tents.
And she caused a headache for Mr Sunak when it emerged she had sought special treatment after getting caught speeding. She asked civil servants to enlist her on a private speed awareness course. But the Prime Minister decided not to sack her or commission a formal investigation into the row after days of dithering.