Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Braverman renews 'culture war' attacks at Tory conference

Home secretary also blames past politicians from all parties for being ‘too squeamish about being smeared as racist' to control immigration

Braverman renews 'culture war' attacks at Tory conference

HOME secretary Suella Braverman warned on Tuesday (3) that Britain faces a "hurricane" of immigration, as she doubled down on her hardline rhetoric at the Conservative party's annual conference.

Braverman, already a darling of the ruling party's right for her attacks on "woke" politics, used the keynote speech to launch a fresh attack on opponents of her uncompromising approach to migration and other so-called "culture war" issues.

In an address heavy with sentiment but short on new policy, she singled out the main Labour opposition party as part of a "luxury beliefs brigade", characterising them as an out-of-touch elite to draw clear dividing lines before next year's expected election.

She also blamed past politicians from all parties for being "too squeamish about being smeared as racist" to control immigration.

Braverman, whose own parents of Indian origin emigrated to Britain in the 1960s from Kenya and Mauritius, has adopted a severe approach to the policy area since Sunak appointed her a year ago.

It comes as more than 25,000 people have been detected crossing the Channel aboard small boats from northern France so far this year, and regular immigration grows to its highest level in decades.

"One of the most powerful forces reshaping our world is unprecedented mass migration," Braverman told the Tory grassroots.

"The wind of change that carried my own parents across the globe, in the 20th century, was a mere gust compared to the hurricane that is coming."

British voters understood that "the future could bring millions more migrants to the shores, uncontrolled and unmanageable, unless the government they elect next year acts decisively to stop that happening", she warned.

'Luxury beliefs'

Braverman's Conservatives, trailing Labour badly in the polls, are seen as desperate to fight the next election on "culture war" issues, even as Britons grapple with economic woes many blame the Tories for.

She has been one of the leading right-wing voices on such matters, targeting everything from police officers taking the knee in support of racial justice to transgender rights.

She has previously described critics of her stance as the "Guardian-reading, tofu-eating wokerati".

Elsewhere at the conference, the Conservatives said they would be "kicking woke ideology out of science", while one minister falsely claimed Labour wanted to ban people eating meat.

In her new attacks on Tuesday, Braverman said the Conservatives stand with "the law-abiding, hard-working, common sense majority against the few, the privileged woke minority with their luxury beliefs who wield influence out of proportion to their numbers".

"Our politically-correct critics have money, they have status, they have loud voices," Braverman added.

"The luxury beliefs brigade sit in their ivory towers, telling ordinary people that they are morally deficient because they dare to get upset about the impact of illegal migration, net zero or habitual criminals."

Predicting these critics would "flock" to Labour at the next election, Braverman said voters would decide "if they want to curb woke with Rishi Sunak or let it run riot with Kier 'take-the-knee' Starmer".

Although attendees rewarded her with a standing ovation, not all of the party is on board with her rhetoric.

Andrew Boff, a Conservative member of the London Assembly, was escorted from the hall after protesting that she was "transphobic and homophobic".

Meanwhile, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused Braverman of sounding "like Enoch Powell", the 1960s-era firebrand Tory lawmaker who warned of racial civil war if mass immigration from Britain's old Empire was unchecked.

Far-right groups still hold him up as a figurehead.

The Guardian said Braverman's speech strayed "into far-right territory" because of her "contempt for liberal and legal norms", and suggested the Tories could soon be classed as a far-right party.

Former minister Rory Stewart, who stood for the party leadership, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "I sometimes think this conference is simply designed to drive the last moderate Tories out."

(AFP)

More For You

modi-bjp-reuters

BJP supporters celebrate in New Delhi. (Photo: Reuters)

Modi's BJP wins Delhi assembly election after 27 years

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that "development had won" as his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured victory in Delhi’s local elections, ending a 27-year gap since it last controlled the capital’s legislature.

"Development has won, good governance has won," Modi said after Delhi’s former chief minister, a key opposition leader, conceded defeat.

Keep ReadingShow less
Uganda-high-commission-event

The event also focused on Uganda’s role in cultural diplomacy and sustainable development.

Uganda high commission hosts heritage event in London

THE UGANDA high commission in London hosted an event highlighting Uganda’s cultural heritage and investment opportunities at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Building. The event featured a performance by the Watoto Children’s Choir.

Uganda’s high commissioner to the UK, Nimisha J Madhvani, addressed the gathering, welcoming guests and speaking about the country’s cultural diversity.

Keep ReadingShow less
Maha-kumbh-pilgrims-reuters

Devotees arrive at the river bank to take a holy dip at Sangam during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India on January 28, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)

India says 420 million pilgrims have visited Maha Kumbh

INDIA’s government announced on Friday that more than 420 million pilgrims have taken part in ritual bathing at the Maha Kumbh, a Hindu religious festival.

Organisers say the estimate is based on artificial intelligence and surveillance cameras used to track attendance.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bird-flu-Getty

There have been 27 confirmed cases of bird flu in England and one in Scotland during the current outbreak. (Representational image: Getty Images)

England bans 'bird gatherings' to contain avian flu spread

THE GOVERNMENT has announced a ban on "bird gatherings" in England as part of efforts to contain the spread of avian influenza.

The ban, which comes into effect from midday on Monday, will apply to fairs, markets, and shows involving various bird species.

Keep ReadingShow less
Matt-Jukes-Getty

Matt Jukes, the UK’s head of counterterrorism, has called for a social media ban for children under 16. (Photo: Getty Images)

Nine-year-old among youngest referred for far-right deradicalisation

A UK charity working to counter far-right radicalisation has seen children as young as nine referred for support.

Exit Hate UK, which helps individuals leave extremist movements, said its youngest-ever referral was nine years old, with the average age of those seeking help being about 15, according to The Times.

Keep ReadingShow less