Do her views represent voters? After months of speculation and provocation, yesterday Rishi Sunak gave Suella Braverman the boot. Some think he played right into her hands.
Sacked! But now she wants to lead Britain
Do her views represent voters? After months of speculation and provocation, yesterday Rishi Sunak gave Suella Braverman the boot. Some think he played right into her hands.
One of the many superstitions in British public life is the so-called "curse of the Home OfficeThe government department responsible for immigration, security, law and order. ". In the last 25 years, only one person has lasted longer than three years in the job.
But Suella Braverman has managed to set a new record, getting herself sacked from the department twice in just over a year.
The final straw was an article she wrote accusing the police of favouring pro-PalestineAn area located in the Southern Levant region of Western Asia. protests, which she termed "hate marches".
Braverman is a political enigma. She studied at the SorbonneA leading university in Paris. , and last year, during a visit by the French interior minister, journalists were impressed to see her speaking to him fluently in his own language.1
But since entering Parliament in 2015 she has backed BrexitThe UK's departure from the European Union. , opposed Theresa May's deal, and fulminated against "cultural MarxismThe left-wing political, economic and philosophical ideas of Karl Marx. ".2
She has also constantly pushed the boundaries of the politically acceptable. She proclaimed that multiculturalism has "failed".3 She claimed grooming gangsOrganised criminal gangs that exploit and abuse children. are "almost all British Pakistani", a false claim that experts said fed into a far-right narrative.4 Most recently, she described rough sleeping as a "lifestyle choice".
That is why some people think getting sacked was her plan all along. Most observers believe the Conservatives are certain to lose the next election in 2024 and she will stand to be leader.
She is one of the most popular politicians in the cabinet, so she would be the favourite to win that race and face Labour Party leader Keir Starmer in 2029.5
But would she win that election?
The British public agrees with her on many issues. More than four in ten voters support the plan to deport asylum seekers to RwandaA country in the centre of Africa. At least 500,000 people were killed in the appalling genocide of 1994., with just 25% disagreeing.6 Half of the public agreed with her that the ceasefire march should not be allowed to go ahead on Armistice WeekendIn the UK, Armistice Day is remembered every year on 11 November, to mark the end of World War One. .7
But this is not the whole story. During her time as home secretary she had an average net disapproval rating of -36%.8 Even if the country agrees with her, there is little sign that it likes her.
And for a prime minister ideas are not everything. She will also have to defend her record in government. But many experts believe this has been nothing short of disastrous.
She has failed to deport a single person to Rwanda, and officials have described some of her ideas as "completely mad".9
<h5 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper" id="question"><strong>Do her views represent voters?</strong></h5>
Yes: On all the major touchstone issues of the day, Braverman is speaking for the British people. They back her on protests, migration and social issues more generally.
No: What the British people like most is having a grumble about how things are not the way they used to be. In elections, they usually actually vote for quiet moderates.
Or... It does not really matter whether or not she is aligned with the public. What voters want above all is competent governors, not grandstanding on individual populist issues.
Home Office - The government department responsible for immigration, security, law and order.
Palestine - An area located in the Southern Levant region of Western Asia.
Sorbonne - A leading university in Paris.
Brexit - The UK's departure from the European Union.
Marxism - The left-wing political, economic and philosophical ideas of Karl Marx.
Grooming gangs - Organised criminal gangs that exploit and abuse children.
Rwanda - A country in the centre of Africa. At least 500,000 people were killed in the appalling genocide of 1994.
Armistice Weekend - In the UK, Armistice Day is remembered every year on 11 November, to mark the end of World War One.
Sacked! But now she wants to lead Britain

Glossary
Home Office - The government department responsible for immigration, security, law and order.
Palestine - An area located in the Southern Levant region of Western Asia.
Sorbonne - A leading university in Paris.
Brexit - The UK's departure from the European Union.
Marxism - The left-wing political, economic and philosophical ideas of Karl Marx.
Grooming gangs - Organised criminal gangs that exploit and abuse children.
Rwanda - A country in the centre of Africa. At least 500,000 people were killed in the appalling genocide of 1994.
Armistice Weekend - In the UK, Armistice Day is remembered every year on 11 November, to mark the end of World War One.