Suella Braverman facing fresh backlash after failure to disclose links to Rwanda

Home secretary Suella Braverman in the spotlight again for the all the wrong reasons. Braverman was already accused of breaking the ministerial code after The Sunday Times revealed she requested civil servants assist her in getting out of a speeding-awareness course after receiving a speeding fine.

There was speculation that she might even be sacked. However, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said today Wednesday 24 May that Braverman's handling of the speeding offence did not breach ministerial rules and would not be investigated.

Now, she’s in trouble again, due to her failure to officially disclose years of prior work in connection with the Rwandan government.

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Braverman failed to disclose links to Rwanda

Braverman did not formally disclose that she co-founded a charity called the Africa Justice Foundation. The charity worked with several people who went on to become key members of President Paul Kagame’s government and are involved in the UK’s £140m deal to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.

The scheme was a vital part of the government’s migration policy. The decision to rule the scheme lawful is now being appealed in the High Court, with lawyers describing Rwanda as 'an authoritarian one-party state', which 'imprisons, tortures and murders those it considers its opponents' and perpetuates 'police violence and legal repression'.

Despite this, Braverman failed to disclose her prior connections to the country when she was appointed home secretary in 2022.

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Braverman should have been 'upfront and transparent'

One former minister told The Independent that Braverman 'never mentioned' her charity work and should have been 'upfront and transparent'. Two former standards chiefs also said the home secretary should have officially disclosed her previous role.

However, Braverman’s spokesperson said it was 'not necessary' for the home secretary to disclose her connection with the charity, which she resigned from weeks before being elected to parliament.

Sources used:

Independent: 'Suella Braverman news – latest: Home Secretary in fresh code breach claims after speeding row'

Independent: 'Rwanda not safe for asylum seekers and judges wrong to rule scheme lawful, Court of Appeal told'

BBC: 'Rishi Sunak decides not to order inquiry into Suella Braverman speeding row'