As an undergraduate reading law at Queens’ College, Cambridge, Ms Braverman became the chairwoman of the Cambridge University Conservative Association. Her first bid to become an MP ended in disappointment at the 2005 general election as she came second to Labour’s Keith Vaz in Leicester East. Further controversy was to follow as Ms Braverman unveiled a plan in April 2023 to house hundreds of asylum seekers in the Bibby Stockholm barge. A few days later, Ms Braverman was sacked in a reshuffle and returned to the backbenches. Ms Braverman opted not to stand for the Tory leadership following Rishi Sunak’s resignation, but she continued to court controversy.

Source: The Times January 26, 2026 15:47 UTC