Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman during a visit to a hotel in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, for a meeting of the Grooming Gangs Taskforce. Picture date: Monday April 3, 2023.
Rishi Sunak has held talks with his sleaze watchdog over whether to launch a full-scale probe into the speeding ticket row engulfing Suella Braverman.
Number 10 confirmed that the prime minister spoke to Sir Laurie Magnus, his independent ethics adviser, this morning.
It follows claims that home secretary broke the ministerial code by asking civil servants whether she could sit a private speed awareness course rather than fine for speeding last summer.
After being told that a one-to-one course without other members of the public present would not be possible, Braverman paid the fine and received three penalty points.
The prime minister refused to give the home secretary his full backing during tense exchanges with journalists yesterday.
Chris Mason - Will you ask the Independent advisor on ministers interests to look into Suella Braverman's conduct over her speeding fine.... & do you have full confidence in her?
Rishi Sunak - Did you have any questions about the summit..#Ridge#bbclaurakpic.twitter.com/iwewmRFdRq
— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK)
May 21, 2023A spokesperson for the PM today insisted he did have "full confidence" in Braverman.
He said: "He and home secretary continue to work closely on the public's priorities, not least tackling illegal immigration."
On Sunak's conversation with Sir Laurie Magnus, the spokesperson said: "He spoke with his independent adviser this morning.
"The prime minister is availing himself of the information, given he returned from the G7."
However, he would not say whether Sunak has spoken to Braverman today.
A decision on whether Sir Laurie will carry out a full investigation is expected later today
Under the ministerial code, ministers are not allowed to ask civil servants to help them with personal issues.
Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA civil servants’ union, told Sky News: “Civil servants are publicly funded. They’re paid for by you and me. They’re not there to support the personal interests of a minister.
“They don’t do their shopping, they don’t look after their children and they don’t sort out their speeding fine.
“That’s really important as well. They’re there to work for you and I.”
He added: “The question clearly is ‘Did she abuse her position?’ And what did she ask civil servants to do? The only way to clear this up is an investigation under the ministerial code.”
This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Follow HuffPost UK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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- Rishi Sunak Refuses To Back Suella Braverman In Tense Exchanges With Journalists
Rishi Sunak Holds Talks With Sleaze Watchdog Over Suella Braverman Speeding Row
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22.05.2023
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman during a visit to a hotel in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, for a meeting of the Grooming Gangs Taskforce. Picture date: Monday April 3, 2023.
Rishi Sunak has held talks with his sleaze watchdog over whether to launch a full-scale probe into the speeding ticket row engulfing Suella Braverman.
Number 10 confirmed that the prime minister spoke to Sir Laurie Magnus, his independent ethics adviser, this morning.
It follows claims that home secretary broke the ministerial code by asking civil servants whether she could sit a private speed awareness course rather than fine for speeding last summer.
After being told that a one-to-one course without other members of the public present would not be possible, Braverman paid........
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