Suella Braverman slams ‘direction’ of Liz Truss’s Government as she quits as Home Secretary

Suella Braverman slammed the “direction” of Liz Truss’s Government on Wednesday after being forced out as Home Secretary.

In a bombshell resignation letter she said she was leaving after making a “mistake”, but then tore into the Prime Minister’s administration.

The pair had previously clashed on immigration policy and foreign worker numbers.

Grant Shapps, the former Transport Secretary who backed Rishi Sunak in the Tory leadership race, was appointed the new Home Secretary.

Ms Braverman said: “I have concerns about the direction of this Government.

“Not only have we broken key pledges that were promised to our voters, but I have serious concerns about this Government’s commitment to honouring manifesto commitments, such as reducing overall migration numbers and stopping illegal migration, particularly the dangerous small boats crossings.”

It comes just days after Kwasi Kwarteng was sacked as Chancellor by the Prime Minister and replaced by Jeremy Hunt following the economic fallout of the disastrous mini-budget.

Ms Braverman, a popular figure among the Tory right, told the PM she had made a “technical infringement” of rules by emailing an official document from a personal phone and she was taking responsibility.

“I have made a mistake; I accept responsibility; I resign,” she wrote in the scornful letter.

She added: “The business of government relies upon people accepting responsibility for their mistakes.

“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.

“It is obvious to everyone that we are going through a tumultuous time.”

In her letter accepting Ms Braverman’s resignation, Ms Truss said: “It is important that the ministerial code is upheld and that Cabinet confidentiality is respected.”

It comes after Ms Truss pulled out of a scheduled visit to a business in Hertfordshire at the last minute on Wednesday, with No10 not giving any reason for the cancellation.

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Ms Truss had been expected to take questions from broadcasters at the electronics business site.

Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper said: “This Tory Government is falling apart at the seams.

“To appoint and then sack both your Home Secretary and Chancellor within six weeks is utter chaos. This is no way to run a government.

“Suella Braverman has admitted breaching security procedures which raises serious questions.

“There are also reports of major disputes about policy and we have had weeks of disagreements.

“We need an urgent statement from the Prime Minister. Home affairs, security and public safety are too important for this kind of chaos.

“The problems go beyond one Home Secretary. If the Conservatives can’t even manage the basics they need to get out of the way and hand over to people who can.”

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesman, Alistair Carmichael added: “This is a Government in chaos.

“People should not be forced to watch the Conservative party implode day after day while real people suffer.

“There is a of cost of living catastrophe, health service crisis and now a rudderless Home Office.

“The only solution now is a General Election.”