UK PM Rishi Sunak dismisses Home Secretary Suella Braverman from position

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has removed Home Secretary Suella Braverman from her position due to her strong criticism of the police’s handling of ongoing Pro-Palestine rallies in the United Kingdom.

Pressure had been mounting on Sunak to dismiss Braverman following her article in The Times UK, where she accused the Metropolitan Police of being lenient toward certain radical elements in Pro-Palestine rallies. The UK Home Secretary asserted a “double standard” in policing, particularly at pro-Palestinian marches, in an op-ed published before a recent pro-Palestinian march.

Braverman, a potential future leader of the Conservative Party, consistently condemned the large gatherings in London following Hamas’s attack on Israel last month, referring to them as “hate marches” and “mobs.” She has a history of making controversial statements related to national security and the police.

On October 10, Braverman warned police chiefs about displaying Palestinian flags on UK streets, suggesting that such actions might not be legitimate if interpreted as support for terrorism. She also listed protest actions, including targeting Jewish neighborhoods, displaying pro-Palestinian or pro-Hamas symbols, and chanting anti-Israeli slogans, as potential violations of public order.

Pro-Palestinian protests, calling for an end to Israel’s attacks on Hamas, have drawn thousands of participants across the UK. A significant march took place in London on November 11, opposing U.S. President Joe Biden’s support for the Israeli military’s operation in Gaza. The demonstration reportedly featured pro-Hamas slogans, anti-Jewish chants, and antisemitic banners, according to Israel’s Channel 12.