Suella Braverman – latest: Tory civil war over home secretary police row as Sunak urged to sack her

MP Nickie Aiken, a deputy chair of the Conservative Party, said Ms Braverman’s comments were dangerous.

“The police should never be involved in politics, and politicians should never get involved in policing operations. The police must police without fear or favour, and it is a very dangerous precedent to state otherwise,” she told The Guardian.

“These protests should not be stopped by political whim.”

Downing Street has declined to offer any update on Suella Braverman after the publication of her controversial article accusing police of “playing favourites” with pro-Palestinian protesters.

A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said No 10 was still looking into what happened after the article was published without getting sign-off from Downing Street.

She declined to say when there might be an update or whether it was a breach of the ministerial code.

Rishi Sunak today hosted a reception in Downing Street to celebrate Diwali.

Sir Keir Starmer has said his rejection of calls for a ceasefire in the Middle East still stands after a Labour frontbencher resigned in protest.

The Labour leader admitted his party was divided on the issue but said there was unity in “condemning the terrorist attack by Hamas” and “being clear about Israel’s right to self-defence”.

Imran Hussain MP said he was quitting his role as a shadow minister to be able to “strongly advocate” for a cessation of hostilities.

Sir Keir said: “There is a division on whether we should call for a humanitarian pause, which is my position as I’ve set out very, very clearly, and some who think we should have a ceasefire, which again I’ve rejected very clearly.

“But this is not a usual political divide because what people are yearning for is a reduction of the terrible events that we’re seeing, the innocent deaths we’re seeing in Gaza, and that’s why a humanitarian pause is so important.”

Journalist Christopher Hope of GB News said Tory MPs have told him that government whips are now ringing round backbenchers to ask for their views on Suella Braverman’s comments.

Which suggests she is in serious trouble, writes political correspondent Adam Forrest.

A Labour MP has written to the prime minister highlighting how No 10 did not clear Ms Braverman’s article before it was sent.

Pat McFadden asked Mr Sunak both whether it was a breach of the ministerial code and what he would do about it, adding: “To say that the article was not cleared and then do nothing about it would strip you of all authority over the home secretary and leave her free to continue to do and say whatever she likes with no fear of sanction from you.”

It would be a display of weakness and “an extraordinary situation” for a government, Mr McFadden said.

Watch:

A Home Office minister has waded into the row over the policing of protests, telling parliament that “in a perfect world” such conversations should be held in private and insisting Scotland Yard was “doing a good job”.

Lord Sharpe’s comments appear to put him at odds with Suella Braverman, who wrote a less-than-private article in The Times accusing the Metropolitan Police of “applying a double standard” to how it deals with demonstrations.

The director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign claims Ms Braverman’s arguments are “further evidence of her unfitness for office”.

Ben Jamal accused the home secretary of trying to “delegitimise” calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and “support for the rights of the Palestinian people by defaming those marching for peace as ‘hateful’ and terrorist sympathisers”.

He added: “Rishi Sunak bears responsibility for her being in office and for his own irresponsible remarks which have added to a climate of division and greenlighted far-right activists seeking to disrupt people’s right to protest.

“Hundred of thousands of people will ignore these efforts at intimidation and march for peace and justice on November 11.”

The Independent has asked the Home Office to respond.

A Downing Street official spokesman has contradicting Suella Braverman’s claims of police bias, saying: “The Prime Minister continues to believe that the police will operate without fear or favour.”

But Mr Sunak still has full confidence in the Home Secretary, the spokesman said.

He declined to offer judgment on whether she broke the ministerial code, which states that “all major interviews and media appearances, both print and broadcast, should also be agreed with the No 10 press office”.