Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak have resigned from the Cabinet, plunging Boris Johnson’s premiership into disarray.
Javid, the health secretary, was the first senior minister to go, stating that he could no longer serve in Johnson’s government in “good conscience”. Sunak, the chancellor, followed shortly after, saying that the British people should “rightly expect integrity from their Government.”
The two-pronged resignation follows a slew of scandals that have rocked the Tory party for months, but it has been Johnson’s handling of misconduct allegations against Chris Pincher that’s been the nail in the coffin. The prime minister apologised this evening for appointing Pincher as deputy chief whip in February after claims the MP groped two men last week. This rare act of atonement was soon overshadowed minutes later when two of his most senior ministers threw in the towel, citing the shoddy handling of the debacle.
In his resignation letter, Javid said: “The tone you set as a leader, and the values you represent, reflect on your colleagues, your party and ultimately the country. Conservatives at their best are seen as hard-headed decision-makers, guided by strong values.”
In Sunak’s letter, published minutes later, he wrote: “I am sad to be leaving government but I have reluctantly come to the conclusion we cannot continue like this.”
Here are the two resignations letters in full:
Sajid Javid
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Rishi Sunak
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