The Liberal Democrats are calling on Suella Braverman to donate her severance pay to homelessness charities.
The party suggests that Braverman’s severance pay could be used to purchase approximately 844 tents for the homeless, based on a cost estimate of £19.99 per tent by LilyAnne’s Wellbeing, a charity in Hartlepool.
This proposal aims to counteract the impact of Braverman’s comments, which the Lib Dems described as “appalling” and indicative of a “callous attitude” towards vulnerable individuals.
The former Home Secretary was proposing new laws to restrict the use of tents by homeless people and drew controversy by claiming that many of those forced into such actions see it as a “lifestyle choice”.
It has been claimed that these quotes, coupled with a recent article in The Times which had lacked changes proposed by No. 10, led to her sacking earlier today.
Earlier this month on X, formerly known as Twitter, Braverman said: “Nobody in Britain should be living in a tent on our streets. There are options for people who don’t want to be sleeping rough.”
However, Helen Morgan MP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Housing, Communities and Local Government, criticised Braverman’s tenure as Home Secretary: “Suella Braverman disgraced the office of Home Secretary and it is an indictment on Rishi Sunak’s weakness that he appointed her in the first place.
“Her comments about homelessness being a lifestyle choice were truly appalling and someone with that kind of callous attitude towards the most vulnerable should have been nowhere near high office.
“Braverman should certainly not be rewarded in any way for her toxic time in the Home Office. I would hope that she has reflected on her words and realises just how out of line they were and donates any money that she receives in her severance package to homelessness charities.
“It is the least Braverman can do after her deeply disrespectful and disturbingly out-of-touch comments.”
The resulting reshuffle in response to Braverman’s dismissal has seen the front bench of the Government take a more centrist look.
Former Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has stepped across into the Home Office brief with former Prime Minister David Cameron being elevated to the House of Lords to allow him to replace the outgoing Foreign Secretary.
Closer to home Housing Minister Racheal Mcclean was also dismissed from her post being replaced by North East Derbyshire MP Lee Rowley. The move makes Rowley the 16th Housing Secretary since 2010.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt remained in post despite speculation of a potential rift between him and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Hunt is due to deliver the Autumn Statement on 22nd November.
