Braverman Claims Sunak Betrayed Immigration Promises, Blames 'Lefties' for 'Coconut' Insults

Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of betraying promises on immigration and criticized opponents for personal attacks, including racialized insults. In an opinion piece, Braverman stated that while tough immigration policy was a popular promise of the Conservative Party after Brexit, her Cabinet colleagues, including Sunak, were resistant to its implementation.

Braverman, who was dismissed as Home Secretary in November 2023, described feeling like a "heretic" and a "loose cannon" for advocating for the deportation of illegal immigrants to France. She claimed that Sunak, whom she had supported for party leader, ultimately "threw me under the bus" and that his administration was "smugly determined to ditch" popular immigration policies.

"What I really wanted was to see Boris Johnson return," Braverman wrote, adding that Johnson had "let woke run riot and immigration run out of control." She expressed disappointment that Sunak, despite promising reform of human rights legislation and a cut to legal migration, did not pursue these goals effectively. "The message from No. 10 was clear: not now. Or, more honestly, never," she stated regarding legal migration.

Braverman recounted attempts to discuss immigration reductions with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who reportedly cited concerns from the Office for Budget Responsibility about GDP forecasts. She also noted resistance from another cabinet member regarding foreign students, highlighting their economic contribution.

The former Home Secretary criticized the Ministry of Defence for a 2022 data breach that exposed personal details of Afghans and British operatives, calling it an "institutional failure" and questioning why then-Defence Secretary Ben Wallace did not face more scrutiny.

Braverman asserted that Sunak "never meant to do anything about immigration and was lying all along," stating his promises were solely aimed at securing the premiership. She described the legal challenges faced by the Home Office in removing illegal migrants as a "jungle of statute, rules, and case law."

She detailed personal attacks she faced for her stance on immigration, including accusations of being a "coconut," an "Uncle Tom," or a "race traitor." Braverman recounted her parents' migration to Britain from Nairobi and Mauritius, emphasizing that their journey did not dictate her political views.

"As a citizen of this country, I am free to express my own opinion about immigration policies. And like anyone living in this country, I can make up my own mind about what serves it best," she wrote, adding that gratitude for opportunities does not preclude seeking to improve the country for future generations.

Braverman also advocated for celebrating the British Empire in schools, suggesting it as an alternative to Black History Month, and argued that current immigration systems should not be viewed as an "open-ended moral obligation" or repayment for past actions. She concluded that a significant portion of ethnic minorities, including her parents, voted for Brexit and believe immigration levels are too high, which she attributes to patriotism and a desire for the country's well-being.