London, Thanasis Gavos

Home Secretary Suella Braverman was kicked out of government by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is reshuffled on Monday morning.

Mr Sunak had been under pressure to oust Ms Braverman after her controversial and “inflammatory” comments about the 300,000-strong pro-Palestine march in London on Saturday.

Ms Braverman had spoken of a “hate march” by a pro-Palestinian “mob” with links to Hamas and had sparked further backlash by accusing the police of bias in their favour.

The opposition attributed these comments to the descent into London of members of far-right groups, which they had incidents with the police.

A total of over 140 arrests were made. Most involved far-right elements and the remaining group broke away from the demonstration at the end and caused incidents.

Ms. Braverman came back on Sunday through X, writing that London’s streets are “tainted with hatred, violence and anti-Semitism”, criticizing the “sick” anti-Semitic slogans and placards seen at the demonstration.

Government officials, most recently Defense Secretary James Hippie this morning, distanced themselves from Ms. Braverman, saying they would not use such language themselves.

Mr. Sunak but he was under pressure and from the far right wing of the Conservative Party which supports the Minister of the Interior to remain in her position.

The Prime Minister is also expected to call on the Metropolitan Police to be tougher regarding the immediate arrest of protesters who shout or hold anti-Semitic slogans. At the same time, he is reportedly considering promoting stricter legislation to prosecute protesters who use fireworks and smoke bombs or who climb statues.

Mr Sunak said at the weekend that both far-right “bums” and those who shout anti-Semitic slogans or wear Hamas symbols must face the full force of the law.

The Metropolitan Police, moreover, has released the photographs of two men and two women who are wanted for either wearing Hamas insignia or holding placards with anti-Semitic content.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office named him until now Secretary of State James Cleverley as the country’s new interior minister, following the dismissal of Suella Braverman.