THE chances of a Cabinet reshuffle were 50-50 last night, Downing Street insiders claim, as Rishi Sunak battled to contain a Tory rift over Suella Braverman.
MPs called for the PM to sack the Home Secretary after she claimed in a Times article that police show favouritism towards left-wing demonstrators.
Jeremy SelwynOne senior source said if there was a reshuffle, there was a 75 per cent chance it would see Suella Braverman leave her current post[/caption]
The piece was not cleared by No 10.
Last night, ahead of a planned pro-Palestinian protest in London, she held out an olive branch at a meeting with Scotland Yard where she “emphasised her full backing for the police”.
Downing Street insiders say Mr Sunak stepped back from firing her but will rule on a reshuffle tomorrow afternoon following Remembrance Sunday ceremonies.
One senior source said if there was such a rejig, there was a 75 per cent chance it would see her go.
But a spanner was thrown into the works when the Supreme Court said it would decide on Wednesday on the legality of the controversial Rwanda scheme she has championed.
A Government win could yet buy her a reprieve.
Signs Ms Braverman could survive the storm came as the PM’s spokesman insisted he had “full confidence” in her and emphasised their good working relationship.
But her Cabinet colleagues continued to squirm as they were asked to defend her comments in interviews.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said her attacks on Scotland Yard were “not words that I myself would have used”.
Education minister Robert Halfon said Ms Braverman had a “unique way of expressing herself”.
Tory MP Tim Loughton warned she was “not making it easy” to stay in post.
He said: “This needs to come to a head.
“It’s doing a lot of damage.”
But Tory peer Stewart Jackson said sacking her risked a Tory civil war, telling Times Radio: “I think it would really backfire quite badly on Rishi Sunak.”
Ex-No 10 pollster James Johnson told The Sun: “Suella Braverman might not be the ideal messenger but, by and large, her message resonates with the voters the Tories need to hold on to at the next election.”
A No 10 investigation into her unauthorised article is not expected to conclude until at least next week.
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