LONDON: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Wednesday that he will not be launching an investigation into Interior Minister Suella Braverman’s handling of a speeding offence, stating that her actions did not violate the ministerial code.
Sunak’s decision came after four days of deliberation following a report by the daily Sunday Times, which revealed that Braverman had requested assistance from officials to arrange a private driving-awareness course to prevent her speeding violation from becoming public knowledge.
In a letter addressed to Braverman, Sunak stated, “My decision is that these matters do not amount to a breach of the Ministerial Code,” referring to the regulations governing ministerial conduct. However, he acknowledged that alternative measures could have been taken to avoid the perception of impropriety.
Opposition parties had called for an investigation into whether Braverman had violated the ministerial code by involving government officials in her personal affairs. The code prohibits ministers from seeking assistance from government staff for such matters.
Suella Braverman’s Letter to Rishi Sunak
Braverman explained in her letter to Sunak that she had sought guidance from officials regarding the appropriateness of attending a speeding course, considering her role as the interior minister and her status as a protected person. She cited a lack of familiarity with protocol as a contributing factor.
Braverman clarified that her discussions were primarily focused on safeguarding her privacy and security. However, after receiving advice that civil servants should not be involved in such matters, she ceased discussing the issue with officials. Ultimately, she chose to accept a driving penalty after determining that a speeding course would not align with her security, privacy, and political concerns. She expressed remorse for any distraction caused by the incident.
“In hindsight, or if faced with a similar situation again, I would have chosen a different course of action. I sought to explore whether bespoke arrangements were possible, given my personal circumstances as a security-protected minister,” Braverman wrote in her letter to Sunak.
“I recognize how some people have construed this as me seeking to avoid sanction – at no point was that the intention or outcome.”
