civilians to escape the fighting and to let more aid in. good evening. so now we know number 10 did not sign off home secretary suella braverman�*s times article in which she criticised the commissioner of the metropolitan police for the way he has handled pro—palestinian protests. the prime minister's office suggested amendments to her draught article, but she ignored some of those proposed changes. did she defy the prime minister? downing street appear to have confirmed that that is the case. this is what she wrote. "i do not believe that these marches are merely a cry for help for gaza." she claimed aggressive right—wing protesters were "rightly met with a stern response", while "pro—palestinian mobs were largely ignored". in an urgent question in the commons this morning, the shadow home secretary, yvette cooper, accused suella braverman of acting in "the crudest and most partisan of ways". where is the home secretary? sent the policing minister to come, to refuse to repeat her words, cos we've seen her words this morning — attempting to rip up the operational independence of the police, attacking their impartiality in the crudest and most partisan of ways, deliberately undermining respect for the police at a sensitive time when they have an importantjob to do, deliberately seeking to to create division around remembrance, which the policing minister rightly said should be a time for communities to come together and to pay our respects. and she is deliberately inflaming community tensions in the most dangerous of ways. she is encouraging extremists on all sides, attacking the police when she should be backing them. it is highly irresponsible and dangerous, and no other home secretary would ever have done this. and therein lies one of labour's favourite lines of attack, that rishi sunak is weak. this is the ad they have released today. number 10 since they are throwing theirfull weight behind number 10 since they are throwing their full weight behind the number 10 since they are throwing theirfull weight behind the home secretary. let's talk to our political editor chris mason. good to see you. we know that in the past downing street has sort of distanced itself from suella braverman�*s comments, but at times this has seemed disingenuous. this time, the anger seems real but the question is what do they intend to do about it. it’s question is what do they intend to do about it— do about it. it's really interesting with the prime _ do about it. it's really interesting with the prime ministers - do about it. it's really interesting with the prime ministers now- do about it. it's really interesting i with the prime ministers now does, christian. _ with the prime ministers now does, christian, on a couple of fronts. firstly, — christian, on a couple of fronts. firstly, there is that whole issue of the _ firstly, there is that whole issue of the secretary undermining the boss _ of the secretary undermining the boss. step away from the politics and the _ boss. step away from the politics and the home secretary and downing street— and the home secretary and downing street spokesman and all that kind of stuff, _ street spokesman and all that kind of stuff, put it in your own world. if you _ of stuff, put it in your own world. if you went — of stuff, put it in your own world. if you went to work at joe's to undermine the boss, then you did undermine — undermine the boss, then you did undermine the boss, then you did undermine the boss, then you publicly— undermine the boss, then you publicly humiliated the boss, would it leave _ publicly humiliated the boss, would it leave yourjob security prospects enhanced — it leave yourjob security prospects enhanced or diminished? i don't need to answer— enhanced or diminished? i don't need to answer that question. then there is the _ to answer that question. then there is the separate issue, connected though. — is the separate issue, connected though, which is the whole thing around _ though, which is the whole thing around what she said in this article. _ around what she said in this article, the language in this article _ article, the language in this article. now is he resetting a couple — article. now is he resetting a couple of— article. now is he resetting a couple of minutes ago, the home secretary— couple of minutes ago, the home secretary has been licensed to say stuff the _ secretary has been licensed to say stuff the other ministers did not want _ stuff the other ministers did not want to— stuff the other ministers did not want to say or would never say. how do we _ want to say or would never say. how do we know — want to say or would never say. how do we know that? well, she is still in the _ do we know that? well, she is still in the job, — do we know that? well, she is still in the job, that licence has existed _ in the job, that licence has existed. and up to the point, if expressed _ existed. and up to the point, if expressed with not too much frequency, every couple of months or whatever, _ frequency, every couple of months or whatever, probably useful to rishi sunak— whatever, probably useful to rishi sunak because she tends to speak in language _ sunak because she tends to speak in language that some order people will be cover— language that some order people will be cover with and use themselves rather— be cover with and use themselves rather than — be cover with and use themselves rather than highfalutin political language, and also in a language that a _ language, and also in a language that a sizeable chunk of conservative backbenchers would like and regard _ conservative backbenchers would like and regard thing that would resonate with then _ and regard thing that would resonate with them. but when you start saying stuff that _ with them. but when you start saying stuff that leaves your colleagues 'aws stuff that leaves your colleagues jaws on — stuff that leaves your colleagues jaws on the carpet several times a fortnight, — jaws on the carpet several times a fortnight, it gets a bit more tricky if you're _ fortnight, it gets a bit more tricky if you're in— fortnight, it gets a bit more tricky if you're in downing street. and it certainly— if you're in downing street. and it certainly does if some of that is stuff— certainly does if some of that is stuff you — certainly does if some of that is stuff you exquisitely were asked not to say, _ stuff you exquisitely were asked not to say, and — stuff you exquisitely were asked not to say, and you said anyway.- to say, and you said anyway. yeah, as he rightly _ to say, and you said anyway. yeah, as he rightly say. — to say, and you said anyway. yeah, as he rightly say, the previous - as he rightly say, the previous example of that was when she talked about banning home of people from using tents on the street and now this. there is some speculation in the conservative media them in fact she wants to be set because she's never made any real secret of her leadership aspirations. can you talk to us about the politics behind that? why was she not want to be in the cabinet and what does the prime minister had to take into consideration in mind of that? yeah, i think it's consideration in mind of that? yeah, i think it's worth — consideration in mind of that? yeah, | think it's worth it _ consideration in mind of that? yeah, i think it's worth it sort _ consideration in mind of that? yeah, i think it's worth it sort of _ consideration in mind of that? yeah, i think it's worth it sort of not - i think it's worth it sort of not taking those kind of bits of interpretation to literally. so, let's — interpretation to literally. so, let's be — interpretation to literally. so, let's be clear, dust suella braverman when they have aspirations to lead _ braverman when they have aspirations to lead the _ braverman when they have aspirations to lead the conservative party? answer. — to lead the conservative party? answer, yes, herambitions are real, but she _ answer, yes, herambitions are real, but she helped also holding right now one — but she helped also holding right now one of the great offices of state _ now one of the great offices of state as — now one of the great offices of state as a _ now one of the great offices of state as a home secretary. as you nright— state as a home secretary. as you might aspire to be the conservative leader— might aspire to be the conservative leader come in what circumstances were _ leader come in what circumstances were that — leader come in what circumstances were that potentially come about? he would _ were that potentially come about? he would come about if the conservatives lost a general election— conservatives lost a general election because they were to win the general election which at the moment— the general election which at the moment seems unlikely, but if they were, _ moment seems unlikely, but if they were, rishi — moment seems unlikely, but if they were, rishi sunak we carry on as prime _ were, rishi sunak we carry on as prime minister. so in a world with the conservatives lose the election, is that— the conservatives lose the election, is that she — the conservatives lose the election, is that she likely to be the next conservative leader? quite possibly, but then— conservative leader? quite possibly, but then he — conservative leader? quite possibly, but then he wore the conservative mps from — but then he wore the conservative mps from who the short list of two they were — mps from who the short list of two they were then chosen by the ownership of the party, who are those _ ownership of the party, who are those mps? it rather depends on what the election result looks like so in other— the election result looks like so in other words there is a lot of creditability about all of that and i’i l ht creditability about all of that and right now — creditability about all of that and right now suella braverman occupies one of— right now suella braverman occupies one of the _ right now suella braverman occupies one of the crownjewels right now suella braverman occupies one of the crown jewels of politics. so, one of the crown jewels of politics. so. yeah. — one of the crown jewels of politics. so, yeah, sure, she has those longer—term ambitions but to what extent— longer—term ambitions but to what extent what you want to throw away a brilliant _ extent what you want to throw away a brilliant job _ extent what you want to throw away a brilliantjob now extent what you want to throw away a brilliant job now for the extent what you want to throw away a brilliantjob now for the prospect of a job— brilliantjob now for the prospect of a job that you might well say is not quite — of a job that you might well say is not quite as good, leading the opposition, often seen as one of the toughest _ opposition, often seen as one of the toughest and most unforgiving and thankless— toughest and most unforgiving and thanklessjobs in british politics, and it's— thanklessjobs in british politics, and it's only the prospect of that because — and it's only the prospect of that because there is no guarantee it would _ because there is no guarantee it would happen. sol because there is no guarantee it would happen. so i think we should in the _ would happen. so i think we should in the first— would happen. so i think we should in the first instance make the obvious— in the first instance make the obvious point, why is suella braverman saying a lot of this stuff? — braverman saying a lot of this stuff? because she believes it. it's what _ stuff? because she believes it. it's what she _ stuff? because she believes it. it's what she thinks is an authentic articulation of her particular brand of conservatism. now if it helps burnish — of conservatism. now if it helps burnish the prospects of a job that she aspires to in the future as well, — she aspires to in the future as well, then— she aspires to in the future as well, then if you are her, you know, all well, _ well, then if you are her, you know, all well, that's a perfectly sort of good _ all well, that's a perfectly sort of good coincidence of two things. sol think— good coincidence of two things. sol think we _ good coincidence of two things. sol think we should, you know, i don't know, _ think we should, you know, i don't know. as _ think we should, you know, i don't know. as we — think we should, you know, i don't know, as we analyse what her motivations are, don't overlook the obvious _ motivations are, don't overlook the obvious. , , ., ., motivations are, don't overlook the obvious. , ., ., ., , , . motivations are, don't overlook the obvious. , ., ., ., ,, . ., obvious. just one other aspect of the prime _ obvious. just one other aspect of the prime minister's _ obvious. just one other aspect of. the prime minister's consideration, obviously he would want to avoid looking weak. maybe, we don't know, he has considered sacking her as home secretary given as you said that she has undermined his position. the one thing that will be in his mind is when it comes to the next election, immigration is one of the key issues. and he has to show the key issues. and he has to show the base that he is prepared to be tough on illegal migration, and he knows that suella braverman's sometimes provocative comments on rwanda, on boats, on tents on the streets jibes with a base, chris. she is important in that sense. absolutely. a couple of things to nrention— absolutely. a couple of things to mention here, christian. one is to remember— mention here, christian. one is to remember how it suella braverman became _ remember how it suella braverman became home secretary under rishi sunak? _ became home secretary under rishi sunak? she backed him at the last minute _ sunak? she backed him at the last minute when it will he could potentially face a challenge from boris _ potentially face a challenge from boris johnson to potentially face a challenge from borisjohnson to become conservative leader— borisjohnson to become conservative leader and _ borisjohnson to become conservative leader and prime ministers and there was a _ leader and prime ministers and there was a loyalty that it was reported with her— was a loyalty that it was reported with her being appointed home secretary. absolutely her language and instincts on some of the key issues _ and instincts on some of the key issues amongst conservative mps and long—standing conservative voters are ones _ long—standing conservative voters are ones that suella braverman could often articulate and articulate rather — often articulate and articulate rather italy. want me to everyone's taste. _ rather italy. want me to everyone's taste. but _ rather italy. want me to everyone's taste. but it— rather italy. want me to everyone's taste, but it is to the tastes of some — taste, but it is to the tastes of some it— taste, but it is to the tastes of some. if you are rishi sunak, would rather have — some. if you are rishi sunak, would rather have the view articulated authentically from the top table or noisily— authentically from the top table or noisily from the back benches? egually— noisily from the back benches? equally what matters massively to rishi sunak his conduct and being decent. _ rishi sunak his conduct and being decent, being perceived to be decent and acting _ decent, being perceived to be decent and acting in a decent way. and i suspect— and acting in a decent way. and i suspect the — and acting in a decent way. and i suspect the whole business of the article _ suspect the whole business of the article that had thing sticking out of it which— article that had thing sticking out of it which then turns up in the tintes— of it which then turns up in the times with _ of it which then turns up in the times with stuff still back in it will have — times with stuff still back in it will have really, really hurt. he will have really, really hurt. he will have, — will have really, really hurt. he will have, i_ will have really, really hurt. he will have, i suspect, hated that, and i_ will have, i suspect, hated that, and i think— will have, i suspect, hated that, and i think he saw an articulation of that— and i think he saw an articulation of that in— and i think he saw an articulation of that in the relation of words from _ of that in the relation of words from the — of that in the relation of words from the prime minister's official spokesman. so if you are rishi sunak. — spokesman. so if you are rishi sunak. is— spokesman. so if you are rishi sunak, is there an easy solution out of all— sunak, is there an easy solution out of all of— sunak, is there an easy solution out of all of this? no.— of all of this? no. laughter. chris mason, _ of all of this? no. laughter. chris mason, that _ of all of this? no. laughter. chris mason, that he - of all of this? no. laughter. chris mason, that he very - of all of this? no. laughter. | chris mason, that he very much of all of this? no. laughter. - chris mason, that he very much for talking to us, good to hear from you on that. this row revolves mainly around a pro—palestinian protest that is taking place on saturday, when the uk will stop to remember the war dead. each year on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, veterans will gather at the cenotaph in london for a minute's silence. these pictures are from remembrance sunday last year. now, to be clear, the pro—palestine march is later in the day and doesn't come near the cenotaph. but the prime minister has said he would feel more comfortable if the protest was banned on saturday. a former conservative leader, iain duncan smith, today begged mark rowley to think again. with us tonight peter kirkham who was a former senior investigating officer with metropolitan police. good happy with us, peter. can we address the main allegation that suella braverman posits in this article, that there is an attitude when giving the green light to protest that tends to err towards those on the left and there is a harder attitude to those taken on the right? that you have any grounds for a complaint? i the right? that you have any grounds for a complaint?— for a complaint? i don't think so. the metropolitan _ for a complaint? i don't think so. the metropolitan police - for a complaint? i don't think so. the metropolitan police and - for a complaint? i don't think so. i the metropolitan police and forces generally— the metropolitan police and forces generally in — the metropolitan police and forces generally in this _ the metropolitan police and forces generally in this country _ the metropolitan police and forces generally in this country are - generally in this country are evenhanded _ generally in this country are evenhanded with _ generally in this country are evenhanded with their- generally in this country are evenhanded with their use i generally in this country arel evenhanded with their use of generally in this country are - evenhanded with their use of their powers. _ evenhanded with their use of their powers. and — evenhanded with their use of their powers. and the _ evenhanded with their use of their powers, and the terms— evenhanded with their use of their powers, and the terms and - evenhanded with their use of their. powers, and the terms and conditions of any— powers, and the terms and conditions of any marches — powers, and the terms and conditions of any marches in— powers, and the terms and conditions of any marches in public— powers, and the terms and conditions of any marches in public assemblies l of any marches in public assemblies and other— of any marches in public assemblies and other events _ of any marches in public assemblies and other events such _ of any marches in pub