Sacked Tory leader accuses Braverman of ‘repeated’ breaches of ministerial code

Former Tory chairman Jake Berry argued Suella Braverman committed “several breaches of the ministerial code” when she was sacked as home secretary before abruptly reinstated Rishi Sunak in less than a week.

Braverman pleaded guilty to a “technical foul” as she was ejected from the game before falling Liz Trussmaking her the shortest-serving Home Secretary in history.

But Berry, who was sacked by the new prime minister on Tuesday, told Talk TV there had been “several breaches” of the code of conduct which sets out how members of the government must behave – or face punishment.

He said: “As far as I am aware, there have been several breaches of the ministerial code.”

Sunak told deputies Wednesday that Braverman’s behavior was simply an “error of judgment.” Berry’s comments will raise questions over Sunak’s claims that his premiership would bring “stability and unity”.

Braverman left her role in the Truss cabinet after she was caught sending an official document from the personal email account of veteran Tory backbencher John Hayes, a right winger.

She accidentally copied someone she thought was Hayes’ wife but was actually an aide to Conservative Party member Andrew Percy who raised the alarm.

Braverman claimed that it was only a draft of a written ministerial statement on immigration that was due to be released soon.

Allies said she sent it after the 4am immigration raid before admitting her “mistake”.

But officials said the file was sent much later and that Cabinet documents were first redirected from her ministerial account to a private Gmail account before going elsewhere.

Berry told TalkTV: “It was sent from a private email address to another Member of Parliament. She then tried to copy the man’s wife and accidentally sent it to a parliamentary staffer.

“It seems to me to be a really serious breach, especially if these were documents related to cyber security, as I believe.

“This seems like a really serious violation. Then the secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers spoke. I doubt he’s changed his mind in the last six days, but that’s up to the new prime minister.”

Braverman said she “quickly reported” her “mistake” through official channels and informed Cabinet Secretary Simon Case as soon as she realized it.

But Berry said: “My understanding is that the evidence was presented to her and she accepted it, not the other way around.”

Labor demanded that Keys, who is reportedly “furious” at her imminent return and “deeply concerned” by the breach, should launch an investigation into “the extent of this and other possible security breaches”.

Keir Starmer accused Sunak of committing “rough business” to re-appoint Braverman as Secretary of the Interior.

During the leadership brief Braverman swung for Sunak which was seen as a blow to Boris Johnson’s hopes of returning to No.10