Suella Braverman’s bid for Conservative leadership faces an uphill battle as key allies abandon her campaign and controversy mounts. Here’s the full story.
Magnet for Controversy
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who was a magnet for controversy during her tenure and has continued to be one since the Conservatives suffered a historic electoral defeat, is facing significant challenges in her bid for Conservative Party leadership.
Assumed Leadership Bid
Though unannounced, many political commentators have long assumed that Braverman, with one of the biggest profiles from the influential right wing of the Conservative Party, will follow James Cleverly, who recently threw his hat in the ring, in the running for party leadership.
Lacks Required Support
However, while figures such as Cleverly, Robert Jenrick, Tom Tugendhat and Kemi Badenoch have all amassed significant support, positioning themselves as early frontrunners, recent reports suggest that party insiders believe Braverman will not be able to secure the backing of the 10 MPs required to make a leadership bid.
Shifted Allegiances
Before her campaign began, influential supporters such as Sir John Hayes and Danny Kruger shifted their allegiance to Robert Jenrick, her former junior at the Home Office. Blunders, misjudged speeches and poorly planned attacks on fellow Conservatives have driven away supporters from Braverman.
Controversial Speech
Shortly after the general election, Braverman gave a speech to the National Conservatism conference in Washington, DC, in which she criticised the flying of the Pride Progress flag in the Home Office, which was roundly criticised from within and outside her party.
“Mutilation of Children”
Braverman stated, “What the Progress flag says to me is one monstrous thing: that I was a member of a government that presided over the mutilation of children in our hospitals and from our schools.”
Suggested Farage Alliance
However, the true seeds of Braverman’s downfall began when she angered Conservatives and drew considerable criticism when she suggested that the Conservative Party needed to align with Nigel Farage to address the concerns of disillusioned Tory voters attracted by the anti-immigration siren song of his party, Reform UK.
Conservatives Outraged
Speaking on LBC, Braverman stated, “Lifelong Conservative voters decided to dump us and vote for Reform at this general election because they were upset with the direction that the party was going in. I think for us going forward as a party, we need to really grapple with this phenomenon of Reform.”
Infighting Criticism
Many Conservatives, who view Farage as an existential threat to their party, were outraged at Braverman’s suggestion. Speaking on Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, Tees Valley Mayor Lord Houchen warned against Conservative infighting and argued that the party had “lost its way” while in government, which had driven the public away from them.
Lost Public Trust
Houchen stated, “They [the electorate] want good services and they also want somebody that they can trust, and they also want a party that isn’t going to fight like cats in a sack and that’s ultimately what drove the election result. People just didn’t trust us anymore and they thought ultimately that we cared more about the Conservative Party and infighting and positioning within the Conservative Party… than we did about serving our country.”
Criticism of Braverman
In a thinly veiled barb at Braverman, he added, “I think any leadership contender needs to rule out a partnership or a coalition or whatever relationship with Reform. They are a symptom of the problem – they are not the cause of the problem in the Conservative Party. And I think that way madness lies.”
“Centrist Cranks” Comments
Speaking on the same show, Conservative commentator Iain Dale was considerably more outspoken in his condemnation of Braverman. Referring to Braverman’s comments, which suggested the Conservative Party was in danger of becoming “centrist cranks,” Dale stated, “I wonder when she mentioned the word cranks, whether she was actually looking in the mirror at the time.”
“Blown Up Her Campaign”
With a wry smile, he added, “I don’t think she’ll even stand because she’s blown up her campaign before it’s even started.”
Support for Trump
As if her recent controversies were not bad enough, Braverman publicly expressed support for former US President and convicted felon Donald Trump. Speaking on LBC Radio, she led a hearty defence of Trump, which bordered on the sycophantic.
“World Will Be Safer”
She stated, “I have followed American politics for a few years, I’ve actually met Donald Trump when he was President, when he came to the UK for D-Day commemorations. I think looking at this race, if I were an American voter myself, I think I would be voting for the Republicans, I think I would be voting for Donald Trump. I think ultimately if we look at the policy – don’t look at the characters, the personalities – I think the world will be safer under Donald Trump.”
Overlooks Trump’s Actions
Incredibly, she added, “If we look at his record as president, no wars were started while he was president.”
Ignored Insurrection
While Trump did not start any all-out wars while President, he did authorise several drone and air strikes and, ultimately, oversaw the attempted insurrection on January 6th when legions of his supporters attacked the heart of American democracy in an attempt to overturn the election, which Trump had lost. Trump and his followers, which presumably now includes Braverman, continue to refuse to accept this reality, instead claiming that the election was “stolen.”
Campaign Dead on Arrival
Suella Braverman’s leadership, marred as it has been by lack of support, an inability to secure the backing of her party, the desertion of her key allies, and her increasingly divisive rhetoric, rendered her campaign dead on arrival. It remains to be seen whether Braverman has realised this or whether her self-belief will encourage her to run for leadership, even as her party warns her against it.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Fred Duval.