Braverman ‘asked civil servants for help’ after being caught speeding

  • 5/20/2023
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The Home Secretary is facing calls for an inquiry into reports she asked Home Office civil servants to help secure her special treatment after being caught speeding. Suella Braverman allegedly asked Home Office officials to organise a one-to-one driving awareness course after she was caught speeding last summer. The bespoke arrangement meant she would not have had to attend an in-person course with other motorists, or an online course where her name could be seen by other drivers. Civil servants refused the request but were so concerned they reported the matter to the Cabinet Office. Braverman instead turned to a political aide to try and arrange the course without revealing her identity. Completing the course would have meant the Home Secretary avoided points on her licence. The requests were refused, the Sunday Times reported, and Braverman later chose to avoid the course completely and accepted three penalty points on her driving licence. Labour and the Liberal Democrats called last night for an inquiry into events by the prime minister’s adviser on ministerial interests, Sir Laurie Magnus. The rules mean Rishi Sunak would have to commission his ethics tsar to look into the allegations, which Labour has suggested could breach the ministerial code. The home secretary was issued a speeding notice by police outside London when she was the attorney general in the summer of 2022. The shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “As home secretary, Suella Braverman is responsible for upholding the law, yet this report suggests she has tried to abuse her position to get round the normal penalties so it is one rule for her and another for everyone else. We’ve had 13 years of the Tories trying to dodge the rules for themselves and their mates. “Enough is enough. The home secretary and prime minister need to urgently explain what has been going on, including what the prime minister knew when he reappointed her. “The prime minister has promised integrity, professionalism and accountability, yet it appears his home secretary is blatantly flouting all three. We need an urgent investigation into what has gone on here, starting with Laurie Magnus seeing how this is possibly compatible with the ministerial code.” Alistair Carmichael, the Lib Dems’ home affairs spokesman, said: “Suella Braverman should be urgently investigated by the ethics adviser and add her name to the near endless list of ministers who have had to undergo the same.” A Cabinet Office spokesman, asked to confirm the report declined to comment. The Home Office was contacted for comment.

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