Suella Braverman 'asked whether she could claim speeding ticket on expenses'

22 April 2023 , 15:55

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Home Secretary Suella Braverman (Image: PA)

Suella Braverman asked Parliament authorities whether she could claim a speeding ticket on expenses, a fellow Tory MP has claimed.

William Wragg, the former chair of the Public Administration Committee, made the extraordinary claim in a series of tweets in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Alongside a picture of the Winston Churchill statue and Houses of Parliament, at almost 2am, he wrote: “This evening, having kept quiet for a while, I was struck by the lamentable hopelessness of the Home Secretary, remembering particularly her first week or so as a Member of Parliament.”

He went on: “My clearest recollection of our Home Secretary’s legal acumen came from day one as an MP. We had a presentation from [expenses watchdog] IPSA.

Conservative MP William Wragg made the extraordinary claims on Twitter (PRU/AFP via Getty Images)

“Her question to IPSA concerned whether a speeding ticket incurred during the course of parliamentary duties could be claimed on expenses.

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“Rather embarrassed, the representatives from IPSA said no.”

Mr Wragg added: “Thank goodness our Nation has been blessed with such a fine Attorney General and Home Secretary. Carry On!”

Ms Braverman was Attorney General before being named Home Secretary.

Mr Wragg’s former committee issued a stinging rebuke of Ms Braverman being re-appointed by Rishi Sunak - despite having been forced to quit days earlier after sending an official document from her personal email to another MP.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Public Administration Committee wrote: “The reappointment of the home secretary sets a dangerous precedent. The leaking of restricted material is worthy of significant sanction under the new graduated sanctions regime introduced in May, including resignation and a significant period out of office.

“A subsequent change in prime minister should not wipe the slate clean and allow for a rehabilitation and a return to ministerial office in a shorter timeframe.”

Mr Wragg later added: “For context, I’ve become increasingly concerned and depressed by the toxicity of the debate around immigration and asylum, which, I’m sorry to say, has been worsened by the Home Secretary.

“Previous tweets were a symptom of my patience snapping. Although true, being cheeky and off-hand doesn’t aid good public discourse, which is something we should all strive to maintain. I hope everyone has a nice weekend, remembering we tend to have more in common.”

Mikey Smith