Michael Gove insists Suella Braverman is ‘first-rate politician’ as pressure mounts over reappointment

Michael Gove has defended cabinet colleague Suella Braverman’s controversial reappointment, describing her as a “first-rate, front rank politician”.

New Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is under growing pressure over reinstating Ms Braverman as home secretary after a former party chair claimed she had committed “multiple breaches” of the ministerial code.

Mr Gove told Sophy Ridge on Sunday that Ms Braverman was a “valued member of the cabinet” who “acknowledged a mistake had been made”.

He also dismissed reports that she ignored legal advice over the situation at Manston, the migrant processing centre in Kent where conditions have been described as “wretched”.