On Monday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak dismissed the controversial Interior Minister Suella Braverman as part of a cabinet reshuffle in preparation for an upcoming general election.
Sunak faced increasing pressure to remove Braverman, known for her outspoken right-wing stance, amid criticism of her handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations and counter-protests in the UK.
The replacement for Braverman, who assumed the position when Sunak became prime minister a little over a year ago, is yet to be announced.
Following her dismissal, Braverman said “it has been the greatest privilege of my life to serve as home secretary”.
“I will have more to say in due course,” she added.
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.”
The anticipated changes, set to be revealed in the morning, aim to recognize loyalists and newer MPs, as the Tories’ popularity has suffered after nearly 14 years in power under Sunak.
The party has consistently lagged behind the primary Labour opposition by significant margins during Sunak’s leadership and is widely predicted to face defeat in the upcoming election scheduled for next year.
Braverman, during her tenure, garnered controversy by adopting a tough stance on immigration and frequently engaging in divisive cultural issues, contributing to the challenges the party faces in public opinion.
The right-wing politician labeled her critics as liberal “tofu-eating wokerati” and expressed her “dream” and “obsession” of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda shortly after her appointment.
However, her position became more precarious after she authored a controversial newspaper article last week, seemingly without Sunak’s approval, accusing the police of bias towards left-wing causes.
It was blamed for stoking tensions ahead of a weekend of protests over Israel’s war in Gaza, which coincided with Armistice Day events, and prompted calls for her to be sacked.
