British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today dismissed Interior Minister Suela Braverman, who caused numerous criticisms for accusing the police of being too soft on pro-Palestinian protesters.
The government announced that Braverman is leaving his position as part of a government reshuffle.
Sunak was under increasing pressure to fire Minister Braverman, a divisive figure but popular with the authoritarian wing of the ruling Conservative Party.
In a highly unusual attack on the police last Sunday, Braverman said London police were ignoring law-breaking by "pro-Palestinian gangs". She called the protesters calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip carriers of hatred.
On Saturday, far-right protesters clashed with police and attempted to attack a pro-Palestinian march through the streets of London in which hundreds of thousands of people participated. Critics have accused Braverman of helping to heighten tensions.
Last week, Braverman wrote an op-ed for The Times of London in which she said the police were favoring some protesters and were more lenient on pro-Palestinian protesters and Black Lives Matter activists than on right-wing protesters and football hooligans.
The article was not pre-approved by the Prime Minister's office as is the usual practice.
Braverman, a 43-year-old lawyer, became the leader of the populist wing of the party, advocating increasingly harsh measures against migration and a war against human rights protections and liberal social values.
As Home Secretary, she was in charge of public order and immigration policy and championed the government's currently stalled plan to send people arriving in Britain by boat and seeking asylum in one direction to Rwanda.
A decision by Britain's Supreme Court on whether the policy is legal is due on Wednesday.
Critics say Braverman is positioning himself for the party leadership in an intra-party race that could happen if the Conservatives lose an election expected next year.
Polls have been showing the Conservatives 15 to 20 percentage points behind Labor for months.
Bonus video:
