Fair to say Suella Braverman’s defection to Reform is no surprise at all to anyone in Westminster. It’s been coming for so long it’s hardly even a story now…
What will make waves however is the Tories’ punchy response to the defection, which swipes at Braverman’s “mental health” – one of those decisions that could come back to bite. Regardless of the non-story response expected from Westminster insiders, the fact is that among Tory members Braverman remained the most popular – recently polled as backbencher of the year by Tory bible ConHome. Kicking her on the way out may make Tory high command feel better, but it’s not likely to go down well with members…
UPDATE: Former Tory MP and Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans says Tories should “withdraw that statement immediately, I think it’s appalling… it’s better to say nothing than to say something like that.”
After being blocked from standing at the Gorton and Denton by-election, Andy Burnham said at the Centre for Social Justice:
“I’m very much focussing on my job. I’ve said everything I think I’m going to say about that.”
