Migraine

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October 31, 2022 View in browser Hello there, I'm Matt Mathers and welcome to The Independent's Inside Politics newsletter.    Michael Gove recently told journalists that the "all-you-can-eat rolling news buffet" of the past 12 months would be finished once Rishi Sunak entered No 10. He might have been reconsidering those remarks yesterday as he toured the broadcast studios to defend Suella Braverman. Westminster hacks are still hungry and reckon there a few more courses yet to come. Inside the bubble Commons action gets underway at 2.30pm with work and pensions questions to new DWP boss Mel Stride. After any urgent questions or statements, the main business will be the report stage of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill and consideration of Lords amendments to the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill. Daily briefing Migraine   Sunak's administration is only in week two but already cabinet ministers being sent out to defend Braverman is becoming a bit of a running theme. The home secretary is now coming under pressure over her running of a migrant processing centre in Kent, while continuing to face questions about security breaches which first came to light last week. The reappointment of Braverman created a headache for the new prime minister that is quickly turning into a migraine.   Hundreds of people were moved to the facility in Maston on Sunday as a result of a fire attack at another centre in Dover.  It has capacity for about 1,000 people but Sir Roger Gale, the local Conservative MP, said around 4,000 migrants are currently being housed at the former Royal Air Force base. Sir Roger raised concerns over reports that Braverman decided against moving more migrants to nearby hotels. Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, visited Maston with Sir Roger and said he was left "speechless" by the conditions there.   The visit came following reports that Braverman had been accused of failing to act on legal advice received at least three weeks ago, which warned migrants were being detained for unlawfully long periods.  Labour will today call on Braverman to explain the situation to MPs in the Commons. The government said it was controlling immigration and deterring traffickers.   Braverman, who avoided an urgent question last week on her security breaches, is also being urged to appear at the dispatch box to clear up the cirumstances surrounding exactly what happened when she sent sentitive documents to people who weren't supposed to recieve them.   A report by the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg has cast doubt on the timings given by Braverman and Yvette Cooper, Labour's shadow home secretary, told BBC Radio 4 Today earlier that Braverman "can't keep sending other ministers into parliament to bat for her".  "There is a blunt immediate question, which is how many other security breaches have there been?" Cooper told the programme. "How many other security lapses has she been involved in? And that's the most important question." Braverman has insisted she made officials aware of the breaches promptly. U-turn?   Over the weekend, Sunak also continued to come under fire for his decision not to attend the Cop27 summit in Egypt, drawing criticism from some of his own side as well as opposition MPs.   There are, however, reports this morning saying that the PM is now leaving the door open to a potential appearance - in some form - at the conference, which kicks off next week.   Mark Spencer, the farming minister said Sunak would attend if "he's able to get through" his other work. "Only he will know what he's got in his inbox and in his diary," the minister told Sky News," pointing to the 17 November de-fact budget as the prime minister's priority.   If Sunak does attend it would be his first U-turn. Sunak was only elected to parliament in 2015 and both the Braverman and Cop debacles - both looking likely early slip-ups in his premership - are perhaps indicative that he still getting to grips with the politics of high office. On the record Gove says government still committed to target of building 300,000 new homes per year.   "The first thing is that the top-down housing targets that Lee was referring to and indeed Liz was referring to are part of a broader and different calculation from the 300,000 in the manifesto. "We are talking two different things here. But my view is that what we do need is a fair way of allocating housing need that takes account of changes in population." From the Twitterati Huffpost politics editor Kevin Schofield jokes about reports on Sunak leaving door open to Cop27 appearance.   "U-turn if you want to, etc etc." Essential reading Michael Bankole, The Independent: Rishi Sunak as PM is not the UK's Obama moment James Kanagasooriam, The Times: It's vibes not policy that decides our votes Harriet Williamson, The Independent: The concept of 'home' ownership has been destroyed for people like me Bel Trew, The Independent: An end to the conflict in Ukraine now feels further away than ever OTHER NEWSLETTERS YOU MIGHT LIKE The Race Report Fortnightly, 7am (UK time) Written by Nadine White Join now Health Check Every Thursday, 7am (UK time) Written by Rebecca Thomas Join now If you can spare a minute we'd love your feedback on our newsletters. Join the conversation or follow us Please do not reply directly to this email.   You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Inside Politics email. 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