Latest news with #SuellaBraverman
Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Times
Watchdog rebukes government for blocking Times FoI request
The government has been issued with an unprecedented formal rebuke by the transparency watchdog for wrongly interfering to block a freedom of information request from The Times. Internal correspondence showed staff at the Attorney General's Office (AGO), the government's legal advisory office, had intervened to 'maximise the delay' in having to disclose how often the former minister Suella Braverman had forwarded official correspondence to private email addresses. After a lengthy legal battle, The Times was able to reveal last year that she had done so on 127 occasions, which a former head of the National Cyber Security Centre described as posing a 'clear vulnerability'. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said it was 'highly concerning behaviour for an organisation with the AGO's role and remit to take this approach', adding that it must take action to ensure requests from journalists are not mishandled in future. Braverman was later forced out as home secretary for using such private emails by Liz Truss, before being reappointed by Rishi Sunak. The intervention came as the government was being widely criticised for its approach to transparency. Last week it was revealed that the government had maintained a superinjunction to prevent disclosure of information about a leak of thousands of names of Afghans who were seeking to flee to the UK for two years, and the efforts to protect those affected, despite the clear public interest in scrutiny. • Juliet Samuel: Afghan cover-up shows secrecy is addictive The ICO said the correspondence about Braverman 'strongly implies that the AGO anticipated their refusal would be overturned and aimed to delay the publication of information that it believed it should release under The Freedom of Information Act'. It said that it 'should not require the commissioner and then the tribunal to instruct them to disclose information which they know they should disclose', which was a 'waste of their own, the commissioner's, the tribunal's and ultimately the taxpayer's limited resources'. The transparency watchdog further criticised the AGO for allowing senior officials to intervene to water down the response to ensure what was disclosed would not be 'easily quotable in a newspaper', with it being clear that 'the quality of the response the requester received was likely to be affected by their status as a journalist'. It said it was also of concern, given the role of the AGO in supporting the government's compliance with the law, that staff also revealed the response was written with reference to concerns that 'HO Spads [Home Office special advisers]/No 10 may wish to spin this'. The internal correspondence, the ICO said, raised concern about 'the underlying culture at the AGO in relation to transparency', concluding that it was 'clearly not in the spirit of the act that a request made at the end of 2022 for information that should have been released at the time does not result in disclosure of information until 2024.' The AGO was approached for comment.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Waterlooville asylum accommodation 'inappropriate'
Former home secretary Suella Braverman has labelled Home Office plans to house asylum seekers in a Hampshire town centre as "utterly inappropriate".In a letter to current Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, she described the proposal for the former retail premises in Waterlooville as "insulting to local people".Havant Borough Council has been granted a 10-day consultation period on the proposals and its leader is set to have a meeting with the Home government department said it was in "active dialogue" with the local authority. Ms Braverman, Conservative MP for Fareham and Waterlooville, wrote such facilities made town centres "no-go zones for the patriotic, common-sense majority"."This plan will dump further pressure on policing, healthcare and public infrastructure, all while ignoring the legitimate concerns of residents who have been left voiceless."The MP, who has started a petition against the proposal, also stated on her website: "This site, in the centre of our town, is utterly inappropriate for migrant accommodation. It must be stopped."Ms Braverman was sacked as home secretary in November 2023, after she defied then prime minister Rishi Sunak over an article accusing the Metropolitan Police of bias in the policing of protests. 'Headline-grabbing' Havant Borough Council said it had not initially been consulted on the plans after Clearsprings, a procurement company employed by the Home Office for the project, had used an "incorrect email address" in a bid to contact the council has now been granted a 10-day consultation period on the proposals and the Labour leader Phil Munday is to attend a meeting with the Home said: "Everything is being done to ensure our voice is heard whilst dealing with a challenge being felt nationally."I look forward to the council providing a response that reflects the concerns of the borough."Mr Munday also criticised Ms Braverman for referring to asylum seekers as "illegal migrants" on her said: "They are categorically not recognised by the state as illegal immigrants - regardless of the headline-grabbing title of Suella Braverman's petition - and I urge people to consider this in their views and actions."The Home Office said: "We are working to fairly disperse asylum seekers across the country, consulting closely with local authorities and listening to local concerns." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Suella Braverman criticises plans to house asylum seekers in former shop
Former home secretary Suella Braverman has labelled Home Office plans to house asylum seekers in Hampshire in a site formerly used as a Peacocks store as 'utterly inappropriate'. In a letter to Yvette Cooper, the Labour secretary of state, the Conservative MP for Fareham and Waterlooville described the proposal for the site in London Road, Waterlooville, as 'insulting to local people'. She wrote: 'This plan will dump further pressure on policing, healthcare and public infrastructure, all while ignoring the legitimate concerns of residents who have been left voiceless. 'Our town has undergone a transformation and become a welcoming place to work, invest, shop, dine and play. Decisions such as yours will once again make our town centres no-go zones for the patriotic, common-sense majority.' The MP, who has started a petition against the proposal, also stated on her website: 'This site, in the centre of our town, is utterly inappropriate for migrant accommodation. It must be stopped.' A spokesman for Havant Borough Council said the local authority had not initially been consulted on the plans after Clearsprings, a procurement company employed by the Home Office for the project, had used an 'incorrect email address' in a bid to contact the council and had not followed up when it had not received a response. The council has now been granted a 10-day consultation period on the proposals and the Labour leader Phil Munday is to meet with the Home Office. He said: 'Combined with my imminent Home Office meeting, everything is being done to ensure our voice is heard whilst dealing with a challenge being felt nationally. I look forward to the council providing a response that reflects the concerns of the borough.' Mr Munday also criticised Ms Braverman for referring to asylum seekers as 'illegal migrants' on her website. He said: 'They are categorically not recognised by the state as illegal immigrants – regardless of the headline-grabbing title of Suella Braverman's petition – and I urge people to consider this in their views and actions.' A Home Office spokeswoman said it was in 'active dialogue' with the local authority and added: 'We are working to fairly disperse asylum seekers across the country, consulting closely with local authorities and listening to local concerns.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Suella Braverman criticises plans to house asylum seekers in former shop
Former home secretary Suella Braverman has labelled Home Office plans to house asylum seekers in Hampshire in a site formerly used as a Peacocks store as 'utterly inappropriate'. In a letter to Yvette Cooper, the Labour secretary of state, the Conservative MP for Fareham and Waterlooville described the proposal for the site in London Road, Waterlooville, as 'insulting to local people'. She wrote: 'This plan will dump further pressure on policing, healthcare and public infrastructure, all while ignoring the legitimate concerns of residents who have been left voiceless. 'Our town has undergone a transformation and become a welcoming place to work, invest, shop, dine and play. Decisions such as yours will once again make our town centres no-go zones for the patriotic, common-sense majority.' The MP, who has started a petition against the proposal, also stated on her website: 'This site, in the centre of our town, is utterly inappropriate for migrant accommodation. It must be stopped.' A spokesman for Havant Borough Council said the local authority had not initially been consulted on the plans after Clearsprings, a procurement company employed by the Home Office for the project, had used an 'incorrect email address' in a bid to contact the council and had not followed up when it had not received a response. The council has now been granted a 10-day consultation period on the proposals and the Labour leader Phil Munday is to meet with the Home Office. He said: 'Combined with my imminent Home Office meeting, everything is being done to ensure our voice is heard whilst dealing with a challenge being felt nationally. I look forward to the council providing a response that reflects the concerns of the borough.' Mr Munday also criticised Ms Braverman for referring to asylum seekers as 'illegal migrants' on her website. He said: 'They are categorically not recognised by the state as illegal immigrants – regardless of the headline-grabbing title of Suella Braverman's petition – and I urge people to consider this in their views and actions.' A Home Office spokeswoman said it was in 'active dialogue' with the local authority and added: 'We are working to fairly disperse asylum seekers across the country, consulting closely with local authorities and listening to local concerns.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Suella Braverman leads campaign against plan to house asylum seekers in 'zombie apocalypse town' with 'Britain's worst high street'
Suella Braverman is leading a campaign to stop plans to house migrants in a town described as looking like it has gone through a 'zombie apocalypse'. A row has broken out in Waterlooville as locals have been left up in arms over proposals to house 35 asylum seekers on its much-scrutinised high street. Over the last two years, the once-thriving Waterlooville has been branded a 'zombie apocalypse town' after videos of its high street went viral, showing it deserted and desolate. It was dubbed a 'ghost town' thanks to scores of boarded-up shops and was singled out as the 'worst high street in Britain'. Efforts have been undertaken to restore the town to its former glory as its local authority - Havant Borough Council - has supported it with a series of grants. Now, the council - as well as the Home Office - have come under fire after it emerged that the Home Office has submitted proposals to locate migrants in Waterlooville. It is claimed that the Home Office proposes to house 35 young male asylum seekers in a building on the high street where fashion shop Peacocks used to be before it closed down. Braverman, Tory MP for Fareham and Waterlooville, took to the high street in Waterlooville to brand the proposals 'outrageous', 'reckless', and 'insulting to local people'. Braverman said: 'Housing illegal migrants and 'asylum seekers' in Waterlooville Town Centre is totally wrong. 'Our local services are already under strain. 'This plan will dump further pressure on policing, healthcare, and public infrastructure, all while ignoring the legitimate concerns of residents who have been left voiceless. 'Waterlooville families deserve better than to have their town centre used as overflow accommodation because Labour has lost control of our borders after scrapping the Rwanda plan.' The former Home Secretary has called on constituents to sign a petition to stop the proposals. She has also written to the Home Office, urging Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to abandon them. Braverman has also accused Havant Borough Council of failing to object to the Home Office's plans. She said: 'Shamefully, we have been informed that HBC did not respond to the consultation from Clearsprings, the housing provider, and HBC did not object to the proposals.' News of the proposals being shared by Braverman has caused a row between Havant Borough Council and the Home Office. In a strongly-worded statement, the council said the Home Office and Clearsprings made a blunder by sending an email to the wrong address. The council also said they have not had appropriate time to consider the plans. A spokesperson said: 'The Home Office and Clearsprings, the property procurement company acting on their behalf, contacted Havant Borough Council in June 2025 in relation to a consultation on these placements. 'It has since become apparent the email to consult on this matter had been sent to the email address of an external contractor who was not only not qualified to respond, but also no longer works on behalf of the council. 'Havant Borough Council does not consider appropriate contact was made and has highlighted to both the Home Office and Clearsprings that matters of this sensitive nature must firmly be discussed in the first instance with the Chief Executive and lead for Housing, in addition to the elected Administration. 'The council has since been in contact with The Home Office, urgently requesting that the consultation period is extended to allow the council to express its views on this matter. 'This is to ensure matters of this nature are given proper consideration, allowing for qualified feedback to be expressed under a formal process.' Leader of Havant Borough Council, Labour Councillor Phil Munday, said: 'I understand we have an instructed duty from the Home Office to house asylum seekers within the borough, however it is important that the council works closely with all concerned to advise on the placement for these vulnerable people. 'I have taken immediate action and personally called The Home Office to request an extension to their consultation in order for us to respond accordingly. 'This has also been followed up with formal requests in writing from our officers. 'We are extremely disappointed that the company involved with this important consultation, considering the impact it may have on our local community, was not only sent to an incorrect email address, but they also failed to follow up to ensure a response of some kind was registered. 'These consultation exercises need to be taken seriously.' Cllr Munday added that he has 'grave concerns' about the impact the recent campaign video posted by MP Suella Braverman will have. 'I would urge the community to act responsibly and allow us to address this matter formally in the correct manner,' he said. 'As part of my open letter to Suella Braverman MP on this matter I will be reminding her that those who could potentially be accommodated somewhere within our borough, will be supported asylum seekers. 'They are categorically not recognised by the state as illegal immigrants - regardless of the headline-grabbing title of Suella Braverman's petition - and I urge people to consider this in their views and actions.' Havant Borough Council has no overall control and last year a coalition was formed between Labour, Liberal Democrats and Green Party Councillors.
