Oldham’s politicians have reacted to the announcement that Rishi Sunak will not be launching an investigation into the Home Secretary.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had consulted his ethics adviser over the case after revelations that Ms Braverman had asked taxpayer-funded civil servants to help her with a private matter, in order to organise a private speed awareness course after she committed a speeding offence in 2022.

Then the Attorney General, Ms Braverman sought to re-arrange a booked group speed awareness course as a one-to-one session after becoming Home Secretary later that year.

In his letter, Mr Sunak told the Home Secretary: “I am reassured you take these matters seriously. You have provided a thorough account, apologised and expressed regret.

“It is vital that all those in Government maintain the high standards the public rightly expects.”

Mrs Braverman said that in discussions with her principal private secretary (PPS) she was advised that the Cabinet Office’s Propriety and Ethics Team (PET) would be “the best source of advice on whether it was appropriate to seek to do the course in a way that protected my privacy, security, and was least disruptive to the course participants and provider”.

The PET advised it was “not an appropriate matter for civil servants to take forward”, Mrs Braverman said.

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Following the announcement, Oldham MP Debbie Abrahams described the Prime Minister as ‘weak’.

Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East & Saddleworth, said: “Rishi Sunak's decision not to launch an investigation into Suella Braverman's potential breach of the ministerial code demonstrates just how weak he is.

“He stood on the steps of Downing Street and promised integrity at every level of his Government, but it is now clear that this is trumped by political expediency.

“Earlier this year I proposed an Elected Representatives Bill to clean up politics and allow the PM's Independent Advisor to start their own enquiries – today’s news shows exactly why this is needed.”

Cllr Elaine Taylor, Oldham Council Cabinet Member for Housing and Licensing, said: “The Home Secretary attempted to cover up a driving offence by having civil servants arrange a private speed awareness course. 

“I am at a loss as to how this does not warrant an investigation into a breach of the ministerial code. 

“Rishi Sunak's failure to act is a damning indictment of his weak leadership. It is clear nothing has changed from the Johnson era. 

“It's one rule for the Tories, another for the rest of us, and no need to take ownership of their mistakes because the leadership will brush it under the carpet. 

“Oldham and Britain badly need a general election so we can have a serious government back in charge.”

At a Greater Manchester level, active travel commissioner Dame Sarah Storey tweeted earlier this week about her concerns on the speeding debate which has been raised in the wake of the revelations about the Home Secretary.

In response to a statement by London police officer Andy Cox, who campaigns on road safety, the commissioner tweeted on Monday: “Some of the responses & quote tweets on this statement, from a leading police expert, demonstrates perfectly the level of entitlement & subsequent risk posed by some drivers. Too many “my speeding/driving offences won’t cause harm” attitudes.

“But every driver who contributed to the c.1800/year death toll thought the same. Also, many thousands are left with life-changing injuries because a driver didn’t acknowledge it could happen to them. Driving is a skill that’s never retested despite the size of machine and risk.

“Are speed awareness courses trivialised by so many because they aren’t proportional to the offence? Is the content lacking impact to reduce reoffending? What would work better? Ultimately the choice can’t be that speeding is accepted as part of life – as Andy Cox stated.”