Sophy Ridge speechless after Therese Coffey ignores Braverman rushing questions
Sophy Ridge was left speechless after a senior minister tried getting out of giving solutions about Suella Braverman’s rushing positive by arguing she hadn’t spoken to the Home Secretary earlier than the interview.
The Sky News presenter was pushed to chuckling at Therese Coffey, including: “I don’t really know what to say to be honest.”
Despite it being the most important story of the day, Ms Coffey claimed she couldn’t add something to the statements already given by the Home Office and Rishi Sunak, arguing she hadn’t spoken to Suella Braverman in regards to the explosive claims.
Both the Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday revealed the Home Secretary could have requested her Home Office civil servants to assist her keep away from a rushing positive and factors on her licence by arranging a non-public one-to-one driving consciousness course.
It is alleged the request, which was ultimately dropped by Mrs Braverman who determined to just accept the factors on her licence, may contravene the Ministerial code.
READ MORE: Sunak’s eight-word response to G7 question about Braverman speeding claims
This morning, Environment Secretary Therese Coffey was requested in regards to the story, nonetheless claimed she’d “only read the newspapers like your good self” and had nothing additional so as to add to the story.
Ms Ridge modified tact, asking Ms Coffey if she has the Home Secretary’s telephone quantity, and why she didn’t communicate to Mrs Braverman previous to doing the interview when she knew it could come up.
Ms Coffey stated: “There’s some speculation in the newspapers, I’m not going to get into Individual details”.
“As far as I’m aware, people closer messaged or whoever – the press – but candidly this is just a case of something that happened I guess over a year ago, I don’t know the details I’m only aware of what was in the newspaper”
She later stated she solely learn the papers at round 7:20am, regardless of the story breaking at 5 o’clock yesterday night.
The DEFRA Secretary added that she hadn’t referred to as Suella Braverman to establish further particulars as a result of she doesn’t “make it my business to go around phoning people at twenty past seven in the morning when I’ve just read a bit of newspaper to look into this”.
Sophy Ridge acquired more and more exasperated, blasting Ms Coffey: “Do you get why viewers might find it a bit frustrating that ministers can come on and say ‘look, I don’t know the details, I’ve got nothing to say on this because I just don’t know’, because it’s obvious we’re going to ask this question.”
“Do you just think it’s not a big deal then, you seem to be quite relaxed about it? It is a big deal isn’t it, she’s asking taxpayer-funded civil servants to get involved in her personal affairs.”
This morning Prime Minister Rishi Sunak didn’t say whether or not he had full confidence within the Home Secretary.
A No. 10 press officer later clarified that the PM does have faith in Ms Braverman.
Answering questions at a G7 press convention in Japan, Mr Sunak stated: “I think you can see first-hand what I have been doing over the last day or so but I understand that she’s expressed regret for speeding, accepted the penalty and paid the fine.”
When asked about the story by BBC political editor Chris Mason, Mr Sunak replied: “Did you have a question about the summit?”
Both the Labour Party and the LibDems have called for an investigation into the claims by the PM’s ethics advisor.
Downing Street is yet to say whether the PM will instruct Sir Laurie Magnus to launch such an inquiry.
Sir Laurie’s inquiry into Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs resulted in the Prime Minister sacking the former Chancellor.