Suella Braverman makes anti-LGBTQ+ comments in Washington

In a speech condemned by the LGBTQ+ community, the former Home Secretary hit out at fellow Tory politicians who wanted the flag flown in Whitehall to show "how liberal and progressive we are".

She lashed out after blaming "liberal Conservatives" for the party's crushing defeat at the General Election, which left the party with just 121 seats.

Mrs Braverman, who was re-elected as MP for Fareham and Waterlooville, is being tipped as a possible successor to party leader Rishi Sunak.

Speaking at the National Conservatism conference in Washington DC, the outspoken politician said: "We won a great majority in 2019 promising to do what the people wanted.

"We were going to use our Brexit freedoms and stop waves of illegal migrants. We were going to cut taxes. We were going to stop the lunatic woke virus. We did none of this.

"My party governed as liberals and we were defeated as liberals."

Suella Braverman made the speech just days after being re-elected MP for Fareham. The constituency now includes Waterlooville (Image: PA)

The Progress flag is an updated version of the Pride ensign. It includes black, brown, pink, pale blue and white stripes, to represent marginalised people of colour in the LGBTQ+ community, as well as the trans community and those living with HIV/AIDS.

Mrs Braverman, 44, said she was unable to prevent it being flown at the Home Office when she ran the department in 2022-23.

She also accused the Conservatives of "presiding over the mutilation of children" by allowing them to change gender.

In her address to the right-wing conference Mrs Braverman said: "Far, far too many Tory politicians agreed that the Progress flag must be flown.

"It shows how liberal and progressive we are, which is something many Conservatives want us to be.

'Well, the Progress flag says one monstrous thing to me: that I was a member of a government that presided over the mutilation of children in our hospitals."

Suella Braverman used the word 'monstrous' when referring to the Progress Pride flag (Image: Alamy/PA)

Mrs Braverman was applauded by delegates at the three-day conference, which was staged by the Edmund Burke Foundation.

But her comments have come under fire from award-winning radio presenter Iain Dale, who has been openly gay since he was 40.

He said: "What a disgusting speech. And she seriously thinks she has a chance of leading the Conservative party. Not while I have a breath left in my body. Moderate Conservatives need to stand up and be counted."

Former Tory candidate Casey Byrne said he had asked Mr Sunak to expel Mrs Braverman from the party.

Posting on X, he said: "Whilst my voice does not matter alone, I urge all decent people to speak up too. This cannot be allowed to go without consequences."