![\"Suella](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/50FF\/production\/_129853702_braverman-index-pa.jpg.webp)
<\/picture><\/span>PA Media<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nRishi Sunak has said Suella Braverman’s handling of a speeding offence did not breach ministerial rules and would not be investigated.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The home secretary was caught speeding last year and asked officials for advice on arranging a private course.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Opposition parties had called for an inquiry into whether she had breached ministerial rules.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n But after discussion with his ethics adviser, Mr Sunak said he thought an investigation was not necessary.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In a letter to Mrs Braverman, Mr Sunak said he had decided “these matters do not amount to a breach of the ministerial code”, after speaking to Sir Laurie Magnus, who advises the government on ethics.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Mr Sunak said while action could have been taken to avoid “the perception of impropriety”, he was nevertheless reassured that Mrs Braverman took “these matters seriously” and had “expressed regret”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Mrs Braverman was caught speeding in June 2022, while she was attorney general, and given the option of three penalty points or a group speed awareness course.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n She later accepted a fine and penalty points on her driving licence for the speeding offence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Mrs Braverman came under scrutiny, not over the speeding offence itself, but over whether she breached ministerial rules, by asking officials to help her with a private matter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The ministerial code requires ministers to ensure “no conflict arises” between their public duties and their private interests.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In her letter to Mr Sunak, Mrs Braverman said she regretted speeding but insisted “at no point did I try to avoid sanction”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “My actions were always directed toward finding an appropriate way to participate in the speed awareness course, taking into account my new role as home secretary and the necessary security and privacy issues that this raised,” Mrs Braverman wrote.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Earlier this week, as Mr Sunak came under pressure to order an investigation into the matter, the home secretary said she was “confident nothing untoward happened”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Liberal Democrats have branded Mr Sunak’s decision “a cowardly cop-out”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “Sunak is too weak to even order an investigation, let alone sack his home secretary,” Liberal Democrat chief whip Wendy Chamberlain said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In a string of quips at Prime Minister’s Questions, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer took aim at Mrs Braverman, suggesting Mr Sunak was too weak to sack her.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Referencing a speech in which Ms Braverman suggested ways to bring down immigration to the UK, Sir Keir said the home secretary’s “big idea is for British workers to become fruit pickers”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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