Interior Ministry advisor Nimko Ali appears to have resigned by criticizing Soila Braverman home office

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It appears a government advisor on violence against women has effectively quit her live broadcasting role after telling the home secretary, Soella Braverman, that she lives on a “completely different planet”.

Nimku Ali, a social activist who was appointed to the independent post by then Home Secretary Priti Patel in 2020, used an interview to criticize Braverman’s stance on the issue and to announce her intention to step down from her role.

When asked if she was happy to remain as an independent consultant despite her disagreement with the Home Secretary, she told the Radio Times: “No. I am committed to ending violence against women and girls, and I think there are many avenues to continue that.”

Ali, a female genital mutilation survivor who campaigns against the practice, added: “I’m just saying that Suela and I are on very different planets when it comes to the rights of women and girls, and also the way we talk about ethnic minorities, especially people like me who come from a different background. refugees “.

The CEO of the Five Foundation, whose website says it advocates for “better funding flows for women on the African continent and beyond,” has been pressed about whether her time as a consultant is about to end because of a falling out with Braverman.

She said, “I think the fair conclusion is that I wouldn’t feel comfortable. I think I can definitely say I wouldn’t feel comfortable serving under Suella or actually saying she’s someone we probably have the same feminist ideals as.”

The Home Office declined to comment, while a British government source claimed Ali’s contract would expire on December 22.

In May, Ali indicated in an interview that her calls to make street harassment a crime had been banned. And she told the BBC’s Political Thinking with Nick Robinson podcast that her plan had endured a “pushback”, hinting that the then prime minister, Boris Johnson, did not fully endorse the proposals.

Ali was pushing for street harassment — such as whistling a wolf, cat-catting, staring insistently or telling a stranger to smile — made a crime with immediate fines for offenders. She said Patel as Home Secretary was “largely behind her campaign” but “then you meet other people who say no”.

“It was frustrating and it was disappointing,” she added.

When asked if this had come from advisers to the prime minister, she replied that the source was “much closer than that”, adding that people would be able to explain “my silence”.

However, No 10 said at the time that addressing violence against women was a top priority.

Ali has supported the Conservatives in the past and has been a supporter of Johnson. Labor attacked Braverman for the apparent resignation, calling her a “damned” home secretary.

Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, said: “She was sacked by one prime minister, sacked by another, now criticized by her colleagues, and now a critical independent adviser on violence against women and girls makes it clear she cannot work with her.

“It’s clear that those around her don’t think she can do the job. It goes to show how weak Rishi Sunak is in hiring her.”

A source close to Braverman said: “The Home Secretary is determined to make our streets and homes safer for women and girls. That’s why she made violence against women and girls one of her main priorities at Home and today supported a new law on public sexual harassment.

“She will continue to focus on this policy and the rights of women and girls to live safely in our country.”

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