THE INDEPENDENT Tuesday, November 14, 2023 : Braverman’s explosive assault on ‘weak’ Sunak

                                                         THE INDEPENDENT 

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Braverman’s explosive assault on ‘weak’ Sunak  Suella Braverman has published her delayed three-page letter of resignation, which seeks to frame tomorrow’s Supreme Court decision on Rwanda as a defeat for Rishi Sunak either way.  The full text is here. It makes eye-popping reading, in particular the four bullet points of the written agreement that Braverman claims was the basis of her backing Sunak for the premiership, complete with the boast: “It is generally agreed that my support was a pivotal factor in winning the leadership contest and thus enabling you to become prime minister.” This will intensify the Conservative civil war, but to no purpose, because such an uninhibited attack will not persuade a single extra Tory MP to support Braverman in her long campaign to be leader of the opposition after the election.

Quiz question  What does USB stand for? Answer at the bottom of today’s email

Daily briefing

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What else do you need to know today? ● YouGov has an instant poll, on a neutrally worded question, suggesting that 48 per cent of people support the Rwanda policy, while 35 per cent oppose and 18 per cent do not know ● A new Survation poll confirms that the Tories are still seen as the high-tax party: more people think taxes would be higher if Tories win the election (39 per cent) than if Lab wins (35 per cent) ● A Kantar poll in Israel finds 58 per cent of Israelis think the current government will not have the legitimacy to continue after the war ends; fewer than 20 per cent say it will; 77 per cent say Binyamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, is responsible for crisis; 73 per cent think he should resign immediately or at end of war – via Patrick Wintour ● I hosted an Ask Me Anything about the cabinet reshuffle this afternoon; you can read it here

Reading list ● I wrote for Independent Premium about the return of Lord Cameron of Remainville – unlikely to win many Tory voters back, I think ● Joshua Rozenberg has an intriguing analysis of the European Court of Human Rights making it harder for its judges to issue injunctions – such as the one that stopped the first Rwanda flight last year. How will that fit with tomorrow's Supreme Court judgment? ● Lisa Nandy, shadow development minister, on how we can help the children of Gaza

Inside the bubble Our political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for tomorrow Big Wednesday. It should start with some good news for Rishi Sunak: the Office for National Statistics is expected to announce a sharp drop in inflation at 7am, allowing the prime minister to achieve his goal of halving it this year. He will be desperately hoping for more good tidings at about 10am when the Supreme Court delivers its verdict on the government’s plan to send migrants to Rwanda.  After Commons questions on science from 11.30am, Sunak and Keir Starmer will lock horns at Prime Minister’s Questions at noon. The final day of debate on the King’s Speech, on crime and justice, will be followed by a series of votes. The Scottish National Party will try to propose a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel; if the party’s amendment is selected by the speaker, the vote could expose Labour divisions. Starmer may order his frontbenchers to abstain, having tabled his own amendment. The select committee corridor will feature Mark Harper, the transport secretary, at 9.30am; David Neal, the chief inspector of borders and immigration, at 10am; and Grant Shapps will make his first appearance before the defence select committee at 2.30pm.

Quotation of the day “I’m not sure I’m even voting for myself at this point.” Anonymous Conservative MP, unimpressed by the reshuffle, according to Harry Cole of The Sun Quiz answer: Universal serial bus (bus, originally databus, is a link that transfers computer data)

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