Tory MPs line up to support Suella Braverman

Once it was David Gauke, then it was Michael Ellis. Now it is Jeremy Quin who bears the honorary title of ‘minister for sticky wickets’. The Paymaster General was called upon to answer an Urgent Question in the House this lunchtime on – what else? – the allegations about Suella Braverman’s speeding fine. He confirmed that Rishi Sunak has ‘asked for further information’ from both Braverman and Sir Laurie Magnus, his independent adviser, after meeting with them both. Quin insisted that ‘It is right that the Prime Minister, as the head of the executive and the arbiter of the ministerial code, be allowed time to receive relevant information on this matter.’

Naturally, such pleas had little traction with the opposition, led by Angela Rayner. As the shadow spokesman for the Cabinet Office and Labour’s deputy leader, Rayner relishes her role as the party’s pugilist-in-chief. She mocked both Braverman and Sunak, asking ‘How many strikes before she is out?’ and sought to broaden the scope from the requests which Home Secretary gave to her civil servants to any instructions issued to her political team to mislead reporters.