In a move signalling preparations for an upcoming general election, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reshuffled his top team on Monday, leading to the dismissal of the controversial Interior Minister Suella Braverman.
Faced with mounting criticism, Rishi Sunak yielded to pressure and dismissed Suella Braverman, a vocal right-wing figure, amid accusations of escalating tensions during weeks of heated pro-Palestinian demonstrations and counter-protests in the UK.
Currently, there is uncertainty about who will take over from Braverman, appointed to the position just over a year ago when Rishi Sunak assumed the role of prime minister.
Following her dismissal, Braverman said, ‘It has been the greatest privilege of my life to serve as home secretary.’
‘It was not immediately clear who will replace Braverman, who was appointed to the post when Sunak became prime minister just over a year ago. ‘I will have more to say in due course,’ she added.
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The firing comes as the ruling Conservatives confirmed a major reshuffle of Sunak’s top ministers was underway — his first since becoming the country’s leader on October 25, 2022.
‘Here we go,’ the party said on X, formerly Twitter.
‘Today @RishiSunak strengthens his team in government to deliver long-term decisions for a brighter future. Stay tuned for the latest.’
In response to the declining popularity of the Tories after nearly 14 years in power, the anticipated changes, set to be unveiled gradually in the morning, are expected to acknowledge loyalists and the rising generation of MPs.
Throughout Sunak’s tenure, the party has consistently fallen behind the main Labour opposition by double-digit margins, leading to widespread expectations of an anticipated loss in the next election scheduled for the coming year.
Braverman’s time in office was defined by controversy, with her unyielding stance on immigration and frequent forays into culture war issues, which are widely recognized as sources of division among the electorate.
The right-wing figure labelled her critics as the liberal “tofu-eating wokerati” and, shortly after her appointment, shared that sending asylum seekers to Rwanda was her “dream” and “obsession.”
Her position became less and less sustainable after she authored a controversial newspaper article last week, apparently without Sunak’s approval, in which she accused the police of demonstrating bias towards left-wing causes.
The piece was held responsible for heightening tensions before a weekend of protests regarding Israel’s war in Gaza, aligning with Armistice Day events, and led to calls for her dismissal.