Suella Braverman: Freedom from Torture campaigners put mock blue plaque on office wall

The charity Freedom from Torture attached a parody blue plaque on the Fareham Conservative Association (FCA) building in response to her Illegal Migration Bill.

The sign claimed that the Home Secretary is ‘on the wrong side of history’ and she ‘closed the door on people seeking safety in their hour of greatest need’.

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A Freedom from Torture spokesperson said Mrs Braverman’s plans ‘are an affront to human decency and leave no doubt in our minds that she is on the wrong side of history.’

‘From cramming refugees onto floating detention centres and ex-military bases, forcing refugees to stay in unliveable conditions in Manston, to unapologetically using dehumanising language when describing refugees, Braverman’s legacy will be remembered for her continued attempts to undermine international rules introduced after the Holocaust and her disdain for helping refugees.

‘As an organisation that works with survivors of torture, we know that many people have no choice but to use irregular routes to reach safety, often risking their lives to do so. Many have described it as like fleeing a burning house.

‘Braverman should abandon plans set out in the Illegal Migration Bill that intend to punish refugees. Instead, she should tackle the unacceptable backlog of asylum claims, ensure there are functioning safe routes to the UK, and guarantee that all those who arrive here seeking sanctuary receive a fair hearing and the protection they need regardless of how they have travelled.’

In January the charity clashed with Mrs Braverman after she refused to apologise to a Holocaust survivor who said her description of migrants as an ‘invasion’ was akin to language the Nazis used to justify murdering her family.

Fareham Conservative Association condemned the blue plaque stunt, which they described as ‘petty vandalism carried out by a radical protest group, clearly motivated for PR attention’.

‘The group promptly removed the plaque once they became aware of CCTV surveillance footage capturing their actions.

‘The claims made on the plaque are entirely misleading and false. It is factually incorrect to assert that Suella ever “closed the door” on any refugee scheme.

‘The FCA firmly stands behind our dedicated local MP and her ongoing endeavours to address the issue of illegal small boats, which pose a significant risk to human lives.

‘The new legislation will break the business model of the people smuggling gangs. We extend our full support for the proposed “Illegal Migration Bill” in tackling this pressing concern.’

The Illegal Migration Bill could change the law so that anyone who illegally enters the UK would be detained and removed either to their home country or a third country.

The bill is passing through the House of Lords where the Archbishop of Canterbury branded it as ‘morally unacceptable’.

Mrs Braverman’s office was approached for comment. She has recently been selected to contest the soon-to-be-created Fareham and Waterlooville seat at the next general election.