Speculation is mounting about the possibility of an imminent cabinet reshuffle by Rishi Sunak – one which could see Suella Braverman ousted as home secretary.
Sources have told Sky News’s deputy political editor, Sam Coates, that the possibility of a reshuffle has already been discussed.
“Until the formal confirmation of a reshuffle, we won’t know for sure whether Rishi Sunak intends to oust his home secretary on a charge, effectively, of disobedience,” he says.
“We do know, however, it has been discussed, and while we don’t know the resolution yet, one Whitehall source put the odds as high as 90% on Sunday afternoon that it would be a Monday.”
Sunak’s Braverman dilemma: What’s more important – being right or being strong?
Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman pictured during a meeting in April
Ms Braverman has been accused of heightening tensions with an article she authored last week in The Times, which accused the Metropolitan Police of having double-standards on how it polices different protests based on political affiliation.
Mr Sunak has faced calls from Labour to sack his home secretary following the article, while Downing Street is currently investigating how it was published without edits they had wanted to be made.
The prime minister appeared to play down any potential rift between him and Ms Braverman on Friday, saying he had “full confidence” in his home secretary.
However, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps refused to say, when asked, whether Ms Braverman would remain in post in a week’s time.
Instead, he told Sky News’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that a “week is a long time in politics” and that he would not be making any predictions.