Exploring the Questions Surrounding Home Secretary Suella Braverman's Speeding Fine
Key Highlights :
The recent news that Home Secretary Suella Braverman has been facing questions over claims she asked civil servants for help in responding to a speeding fine has caused a stir in the media and among the public. The Sunday Times reported that Ms Braverman was caught breaking the speed limit last summer and has since taken three penalty points on her driving licence.
According to the report, the Home Secretary asked civil servants to help her arrange a private, one-to-one speed awareness course to avoid her having to attend in-person. A separate report in the Mail on Sunday included sources who claimed she asked aides to look at how she could avoid appearing on a screen with members of the public.
Ms Braverman was said to have decided to take the points and pay the fine instead of attending a course when she was reinstated by Rishi Sunak after quitting Liz Truss’s cabinet. However, a source close to her on Saturday night denied she had consulted Whitehall staff over her options and confirmed that she had paid the penalty.
The roles of the Home Office include responsibility for the police, speeding offences and enforcing fixed-penalty notices for motorists who break the law. Tom Tugendhat, the security minister at the Home Office, was banned from driving for six months in November after being caught with his phone in his hand, while Robert Jenrick, Ms Braverman’s immigration minister, also received a six-month driving ban last month.
The news has sparked calls from Labour and the Liberal Democrats for an independent inquiry into the matter. Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, has called for an urgent investigation into what went on and who knew, starting with the government’s ethics adviser.
There has also been criticism from some Conservative backbenchers, with one former Cabinet minister telling The Telegraph: “It’s not a good look for a Home Secretary.” Another Tory MP went further and said the time had come for Ms Braverman to resign.
The government’s website states that a motorist can be banned from driving if they have 12 or more penalty points on their licence. The Sunday Times said that civil servants, before refusing Ms Braverman’s request for them to set up a bespoke driving course arrangement for her, contacted the Cabinet Office for advice.
At this time, it is unclear what the outcome of the inquiry will be. However, it is clear that the Home Secretary’s actions have raised serious questions and it is important that an independent investigation is conducted to determine the facts of the matter. It is also important that the government takes a firm stance against any misuse of power and that all members of the government are held to the same standards.
