Sunak grilled over cabinet choices in debut debate as PM
London, Oct 26 (EFE).- Rishi Sunak was pressed during his debut parliamentary debate as prime minister to explain his decision to appoint Suella Braverman as home secretary just days after she stepped down from the role over a security breach.
Braverman resigned as home secretary – the UK’s answer to an interior minister – just six days ago in the dying days of Liz Truss’ government after breaching the ministerial code by sending an official document from a personal email account.
During the weekly prime minister’s debate in the House of Commons Wednesday, the opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer grilled Sunak over her return to cabinet and suggested the Conservative leader was putting his party before the country.
“Yesterday the prime minister stood on the steps of Downing Street and promised integrity, professionalism and accountability,” Starmer said.
“But then with his first act he appointed a home secretary who was sacked by his predecessor a week ago for deliberately pinging around sensitive Home Office documents on her personal account.”
He asked Sunak if officials had “raised concerns” about her appointment.
Sunak, who is the first person of color to hold the office of UK prime minister, defended his decision.
“The home secretary made an error of judgment but she recognised that she raised the matter and she accepted her mistake.”
Labour claims Braverman’s return to the Home Office raises “national security” concerns, while the Liberal Democrats, also in the opposition, are requesting an inquiry. EFE
vg/jt/ks
