Suella Braverman, who last week called asylum seekers an “invasion,” was cautioned by government attorneys that provocative immigration speech might inspire a far-right terror plot.
Braverman’s statements came after a far-right extremist tossed firebombs at a Dover immigration centre. Counter-terrorism police said Saturday they uncovered proof the attack was motivated by “extreme rightwing” terrorism.
In October 2020, Braverman was told how hate speech by leading politicians posed a terrorism danger. It followed an alleged terror plot targeting a law practice after then-home secretary Priti Patel said: “activist lawyers” were delaying the expulsion of unsuccessful asylum applicants.
Senior legal professionals contacted the attorney general’s office after the alleged event to express concern that political discourse spurred violence.
Braverman met with government attorneys, the lord chancellor, and the lord chief justice in late October 2020 to examine the “worrying surge in ‘activist lawyers’ language’ by the government.
Braverman was worried and asked Patel to tone down her words.
Last week, Braverman doubled down on her tone, referring to “Albanian criminals” in parliament. Edi Rama, the prime minister of the eastern European country, accused Braverman of using “xenophobic” remarks.
One senior lawyer familiar with October 2020 conversations said Braverman knew her contribution was explosive.
They remarked, “It was careless at best.” She understands it might spark assaults. She’s either careless or deliberately ignoring the repercussions.
“The home secretary must safeguard public safety, not endanger individuals.”
Another senior legal source claimed Braverman was advised of the hazards such language posed to the profession.
The day after Braverman used the word “invasion,” far-right figure Mark Collett – who has praised Adolf Hitler, been arrested for inciting racial hatred, and called refugees “cockroaches” – forwarded a Telegram message from a fellow white supremacist that said: “What’s happening to our borders is an invasion and no amount of pearl-clutching will change that.”
Patriotic Alternative founder Collet wrote on Telegram the day after the firebombing, “This attack is the tragic effect of living in a multicultural tyranny imposed by a globalist system that cares nothing for white people.”
Recent social media assaults on Rishi Sunak focus on antisemitic conspiracy theories to connect him to a globalist conspiracy. Nigel Farage and Dan Wootton used the epithet after Jewish Grant Shapps succeeded Braverman as home secretary last month.
Far-right forces attacked immigration minister Robert Jenrick when he rejected Braverman’s words, accusing him of “treason” and referencing his Jewish faith alongside an image of Pepe the Frog, an alt-right cartoon figure.
Former skills minister Andrea Jenkyns called immigration attorneys “anti-British” Jenkyns responded to Braverman, “You were correct to call this an invasion, and my constituents appreciate your candour.”
A Home Office official said the home secretary’s priority is protecting UK security and residents.
