Head of police training body at centre of a Whitehall power struggle

 December 3, 2023

Head of police training body is at the centre of a Whitehall power struggle over his ‘woke’ beliefs

  • Braverman & Herbert clashed over his opposition to a crackdown on protesters
  • Before entering Lords, Lord Herbert served as Home Office and Justice Minister

The head of the police training body was last night at the centre of a Whitehall power struggle over his ‘woke’ beliefs.

The Mail on Sunday understands that Lord (Nick) Herbert was due to be removed as chairman of the College of Policing by ex-Home Secretary Suella Braverman after they clashed over his opposition to a crackdown on environmental protesters.

However, Mrs Braverman was sacked by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak following a row over the policing of pro-Palestinian marches before the decision could take effect. 

That opened up the prospect of a reprieve for Lord Herbert under her successor as Home Secretary, James Cleverly.

Last night, Lord Herbert’s fate was hanging in the balance after a source told this newspaper that Mr Cleverly was minded to reappoint Lord Herbert but that No 10 was ‘less keen’.

The Mail on Sunday understands that Lord (Nick) Herbert was due to be removed as chairman of the College of Policing by ex-Home Secretary Suella Braverman

Suella Braverman and Lord (Nick) Herbert clashed over his opposition to a crackdown on environmental protesters

The source said: ‘Nick’s suitability, or otherwise, for that job is one of the few things which Suella and Rishi agree on.’

Before entering the Lords, gay rights champion Lord Herbert served as a Home Office and Justice Minister, and was MP for Arundel and South Downs for 14 years.

In 2021, then Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed him as UK special envoy on LGBT rights. 

The peer, the first openly gay Tory parliamentary candidate when he entered the Commons in 2005, angered some party colleagues by warning against a culture war over transgender rights, saying: ‘It distracts from the practical things we need to do to support people.

‘I wouldn’t like to see the Government in any way take a side in what some are seeing clearly as a culture war.’ Lord Herbert was approached for comment.

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