A UK Speeding Scandal Threatens a Political Crash
Bloomberg Opinion
23-05-23 04:00
UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman is facing allegations of impropriety after reportedly asking a civil servant to help her flout protocol and avoid taking a speed awareness course or points when she was caught speeding. Reports suggest that the civil servant declined because they cannot act on private matters or in a way that might appear politically partisan, while her party office was also unable to arrange for a private course. Braverman subsequently received points on her licence. Although the revelations may initially seem minor, they come as the government is due to release figures expected to show a significant increase in immigration levels. Braverman is an architect of the Illegal Migration Bill, which criminalises anyone arriving in the UK without permission, and has also spoken about limiting overseas recruitment and training more domestic workers to cut immigration.