Home Secretary Suella Braverman has disowned an article she wrote attacking the police over their handling of protests, but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has backed her.

In the article, which was published in The Times without Downing Street's approval, Ms Braverman claimed that the police were biased against right-wing protesters and more lenient towards pro-Palestinian protesters.

She wrote: "There is a perception that senior officers play favorites when it comes to protesters. Right-wing and nationalist protesters who engage in aggression are rightly met with a stern response yet pro-Palestinian mobs displaying almost identical behavior are largely ignored, even when clearly breaking the law."

Her comments were met with criticism from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who accused her of undermining the police, and from some Conservative MPs who called for her to be sacked.

However, Mr Sunak's spokesperson said that the prime minister had full confidence in Ms Braverman.

The Ministerial Code says that all major interviews and media appearances by ministers should be agreed with Downing Street. A minister who breaches the code can be punished by the prime minister, ranging from a public apology to being sacked.

It is unclear why Ms Braverman's article was not cleared by Downing Street, but it is possible that No 10 was concerned about the potential for the comments to inflame tensions and lead to violence at planned pro-Palestinian protests in London on Saturday.

The protests are due to take place on Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of World War One. Some people have called for the protests to be cancelled on the grounds that they are disrespectful, but the Metropolitan Police has said that it will allow them to go ahead.

The police have also said that they expect a large rally on Saturday, prompting fears of violent clashes with counter-protesters.

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