Senior Tory Mark Harper Dodges BBC Question FIVE Times To Avoid Backing Home Secretary
BBC journalist Charlie Stayt held Transport Minister Mark Harper to the fire on Thursday as the Conservative refused to answer whether he had “confidence” in Home Secretary Suella Braverman, amid widespread backlash to her inflammatory rhetoric.
Braverman is facing widespread criticism, including calls for her to be sacked, after making assertions that the Metropolitan Police exhibited politicised favouritism by not intervening in a pro-Palestine march scheduled for Armistice Day.
In an article written for The Times Thursday morning, Braverman also alleged that Islamists aimed to use the upcoming Saturday march to declare “primacy,” drawing a contentious parallel to extremist gatherings in Northern Ireland with supposed ties to terrorism.
After Harper’s rambling in response to the question, Stayt reasserted himself: “I’ve given you three opportunities to offer your agreement to your colleague, the Home Secretary Suella Braverman and you’ve chosen not to do that on three occasions. Does the Home Secretary have your full backing and full confidence?”
Again, Harper deflected, choosing to highlight his collaborative efforts with Braverman, “I’ve been working closely with the Home Secretary this week…”
Stayt interrupted: “That’s a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question.”
Undeterred, Harper continued: “If I may, I’ve been working closely with the Home Secretary this week. We’re all focused on making sure that the protest on Saturday takes place in a lawful way, in a way that prevents disorder. And I’ve been working with her policing colleagues in the Home Office and police leaders from across the country and our agencies. That’s what we’re all focused on…”
With mounting impatience, Stayt cut in, demanding a straightforward answer. He said: “I am going to do the rude thing where I’m going to require you to answer the question, which is: Do you, as a senior member of this government, have full confidence in Suella Braverman?”
Harper, unwavering, remained with his method of response: “I’m answering your question, but I’m answering it in my way. I’m focusing on what I’ve seen people doing this week and I’ve been in meetings with the Home Secretary. She chaired one on Monday with police leaders and in that meeting we were all focused, all of us, ministers, police leaders, on putting in place measures to make sure that the protest on Saturday takes place in a lawful way, in an orderly way and that the communities across our country feel confident and safe. That’s what we’re all focused on doing and I’m focusing on what people are doing this week.”
Noting Harper’s reluctance to state that he has confidence in Braverman, Stayt moved on to query the government’s backing of Metropolitan Police Chief Mark Rowley.
As Braverman’s own comments continue to inflame debate over the march, due to take place on Saturday, pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to reign in his minister or fire her entirely. Harper, for one, is guarding his hand.
