The Conservative Party has withdrawn a statement suggesting Suella Braverman's defection to Reform UK was linked to her mental health, after widespread condemnation. The party initially claimed it had 'done all we could to look after Suella’s mental health, but she was clearly very unhappy.'
The statement, sent to journalists by a Conservative spokesperson, was swiftly criticised by MPs, peers, and mental health charities for being 'brutal' and 'trivialising' mental health struggles. Former Conservative MP Nigel Evans called it an 'absolute disgrace,' while Tory peer Stewart Jackson said it would lose the party votes.
The party later apologised, calling the release an 'error' and issuing a revised statement without the mental health reference. Labour MP Sojan Joseph, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on mental health, described the comments as 'frankly appalling,' adding that they 'downplay an incredibly important issue.'
A Reform UK source denied the claim, stating Braverman has never been diagnosed with a mental health condition, and accused the Tories of 'panic mode.' Mental health charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness also condemned the remarks, with Mind's Tom Pollard saying it was 'disappointing to see a political party commenting publicly on someone’s mental health.'
