Ex-Advisor Says Suella Braverman Eyes Firing as Springboard for Party Leadership Bid

Former government advisor Colin Bloom said that in making provocative comments Home Secretary Suella Braverman is “goading” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak into firing her so that she can begin a campaign to become Conservative Party leader.

Bloom worked as Faith Engagement Adviser at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and appeared on BBC Newsnight with host Victoria Derbyshire on Monday.

During his appearance Derbyshire asked him about the Home Secretary’s comments on the pro-Palestinian march planned for Saturday in London, coinciding with World War Armstice Day commemorations.

Derbyshire asked: “Suella Braverman has described the pro-Palestinian march this weekend like this: ‘It’s entirely unacceptable to desecrate Armistice Day with a hate march through London.’ What do you think of that language?”

“Well, it’s not language I would use,” Bloom said. “I think, well, clearly it wouldn’t have been cleared by Number 10. I think that language is deliberately designed to goad number ten into probably firing her. I think Suella Braverman is looking to be fired.”

Pointing to a further instance of Braverman crossing the line, he continued: “It’s not just those comments. It’s the comments that she made about people sleeping in tents. I think she is goading Number 10 into getting rid of her because she wants to launch her leadership campaign. And I think that’s probably what it’s about, very, very. It’s very regrettable what she said.”

On Saturday Braverman labelled rough sleeping as a “lifestyle choice” and pledged to restrict tent use by the homeless with new legislation. The proposals are reportedly slated for inclusion in the King’s Speech, outlining the UK government’s policy plans on Tuesday.

As well as a general backlash, Sunak and several other senior Tories have distanced themselves from the comments, although the Prime Minister stopped short of openly criticising Braverman.

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