Devendra Kumar
Rishi Sunak’s decision to sack Suella Braverman as home secretary has sparked outrage among right-wing Conservative MPs, leading one prominent figure to publicly call for Sunak’s departure as prime minister. Andrea Jenkyns, a former minister and close ally of Boris Johnson, submitted a letter of no confidence in Sunak to the Tory backbench 1922 Committee, stating that “enough is enough” and that Sunak should be replaced with a “real” Conservative leader.
Jenkyns’ scathing criticism of Sunak echoes the sentiment expressed by many of her colleagues, who are upset about Braverman’s ousting. The former home secretary was a vocal advocate for policies aimed at addressing the country’s problems with crime and police bias, and her allies within the party are determined to hold Sunak accountable for his actions.
The atmosphere among Tory MPs is tense, with some members publicly clashing online. Tim Loughton, a staunch Sunak supporter, took aim at Jenkyns, sarcastically suggesting that she submit a letter of no confidence in “the Pantomime Dame.” However, other MPs, including Deputy Tory chairman Lee Anderson, have defended Braverman, stating that she was “guilty of saying what most of us are thinking and saying” and that “thank goodness we have a Home Secretary who refuses to be cancelled.”
While the 1922 Committee’s threshold for a vote of no confidence stands at 15 per cent of sitting Tory MPs, the fact that some high-profile figures are openly questioning Sunak’s leadership is causing concern at Number 10. As the news of Jenkyns’ letter spread, it became clear that Braverman’s sacking has created a deep rift within the Conservative Party, with different factions vying for power and influence.
The group of Conservative MPs who met to discuss Braverman’s sacking, led by Danny Kruger and Miriam Cates, was “far from pleased” with the circumstances, but none of the members present indicated that they intended to submit letters of no confidence in Sunak. The situation is fluid, and it remains to be seen how the power struggle within the party will play out. For now, Sunak’s leadership is under scrutiny, and the future of his premiership hangs in the balance.