Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Johnson on the brink as Sunak, Javid quit in protest

Johnson on the brink as Sunak, Javid quit in protest
Sajid Javid (L), Rishi Sunak (C) and Boris Johnson (R) walks towards the door of number 9, Downing Street ahead of a press conference on September 07, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Prime Minister Boris Johnson suffered two shock departures from his government Tuesday, including his finance minister, as civil war erupted in the high command of the ruling Conservative party.

Rishi Sunak quit as chancellor of the exchequer and Sajid Javid as health secretary, with both saying they could no longer tolerate the culture of scandal that has stalked Johnson for months.


Labour leader Keir Starmer said it was "clear that this government is now collapsing".

"The Tory party is corrupted and changing one man won't fix that," he said in a statement, demanding a snap general election.

The resignations were announced minutes after the prime minister apologised for appointing a senior Conservative, who quit last week after he was accused of drunkenly groping two men.

Days of shifting explanations had followed the resignation of deputy chief whip Chris Pincher. Downing Street at first denied Johnson knew of prior allegations against Pincher when appointing him in February.

But by Tuesday, that defence had collapsed after a former top civil servant said Johnson has been told in 2019 about another incident involving his ally.

"I think it was a mistake and I apologise for it," the prime minister told reporters. "In hindsight, it was the wrong thing to do."

Johnson only narrowly survived a vote of no confidence among Conservative MPs a month ago, and speculation was rife that party rules could be changed to allow another vote soon.

The Pincher affair was the "icing on the cake" for Sunak and Javid, Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, one of Johnson's fiercest critics, told Sky News.

"It's time for Boris to go. He can drag this out for a few more hours if he wants to.

"But I and a lot of the party now are determined that he will be gone by the summer recess (starting July 22): the sooner the better."

A government trade envoy and three ministerial aides also quit - along with a vice chair of the Tory party, live on TV.

But other cabinet members including Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace - two likely contenders for the leadership - continue to back Johnson, aides said.

Yet Sunak's departure in particular, in the middle of policy differences over a cost-of-living crisis sweeping Britain, is dismal news for Johnson.

In a caustic resignation letter, Sunak said "the public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously".

"I believe these standards are worth fighting for and that is why I am resigning," he wrote to Johnson.

Javid, who preceded Sunak at the Treasury before quitting over a prior bust-up with Johnson, wrote that the British public "expect integrity from their government".

The prime minister's survival in last month's no-confidence vote gave him the opportunity to show "humility, grip and new direction", Javid said.

"I regret to say, however, that it is clear to me that this situation will not change under your leadership -- and you have therefore lost my confidence too."

Johnson named his Iraqi-born education secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, as the new chancellor and Downing Street chief of staff Steve Barclay as the new health secretary.

Zahawi was born in Baghdad to a Kurdish family who moved to Britain when he was a child, not speaking any English.

In a lucrative business career, he co-founded the prominent polling company YouGov - which delivered more bad news for Johnson late Tuesday.

A snap poll after the resignations said 69 percent of voters think Johnson should quit, YouGov said.

That included 54 percent of people who backed the Tories in the 2019 "Brexit election" which delivered him a thumping victory.

Johnson has been embroiled in various scandals, including the so-called "Partygate" affair, which saw him receive a police fine for breaking his own coronavirus lockdown restrictions in Downing Street.

The 58-year-old premier still faces a parliamentary probe into whether he lied to MPs over the lockdown-breaching parties in Downing Street.

Pincher's departure from the whips' office - charged with enforcing party discipline and standards - marked yet another allegation of sexual misconduct by Tories in recent months.

Conservative MP Neil Parish resigned in April after he was caught watching pornography on his mobile phone in the House of Commons.

That prompted a by-election in his previously safe seat, which the party went on to lose in a historic victory for the opposition Liberal Democrats.

Labour, the main opposition party, defeated the Conservatives in another by-election in northern England on the same day, prompted by the conviction of its Tory MP for sexual assault.

More for you

Blurred image of cashier with long line of people at check-out counter of supermarket
Photo: iStock

NBCC urges retailers to access free crime prevention resources to protect shopworkers during festive season

The police-led National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) is urging retailers to make full use of the crime prevention and training resource available for free via their website to help support shop workers during the busy festive season.

With the most recent crime survey from the BRC showing incidents of abuse and violence towards shopworkers have risen to 1,300 a day, the lead up to Christmas can be extremely challenging for those working in retail.

Keep ReadingShow less
Happy new year? Food bills increased by 40% since 2020 - IGD

Happy new year? Food bills increased by 40% since 2020 - IGD

UK food businesses are expected to face significant financial challenges in 2025, grappling with multiple cost pressures. The cost of food items is predicted to rise by up to 4.9 per cent next year, according to the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD).

IGD’s latest Viewpoint Special Report, “Hungry For Growth”, highlights food inflation as one of the most significant challenges for UK households. However, it also places the increase in food prices within a wider context of overall industry pressures.

Keep ReadingShow less
Post Office scandal: Police investigating 'dozens' of suspects; trial awaited until 2027

Post Office scandal: Police investigating 'dozens' of suspects; trial awaited until 2027

Police investigating crimes linked to the Post Office Horizon IT scandal are looking at "dozens" of potential suspects, but don't expect trials to begin until 2027. The police will also await the publication of Sir Wyn Williams’ public inquiry into the Post Office Horizon IT scandal before moving forward to charging, stated recent reports.

The investigation, which the police describe as unprecedented in size and scale, is in the first instance examining potential offences of perjury and perverting the course of justice by those involved in making “key decisions” on Post Office investigations and supporting prosecutions of branch owner-operators.

Keep ReadingShow less
Welsh beverage brand Tŷ Nant acquires Fonthill and Decantae from Primo Water

Welsh beverage brand Tŷ Nant acquires Fonthill and Decantae from Primo Water

Tŷ Nant, a symbol of Welsh luxury and premium hydration, has announced the strategic acquisition of Fonthill Water and Decantae Mineral Water from the US-based Primo Water Corporation.

Tŷ Nant said the acquisition will elevate its status as one of the UK's leading premium water brands, following closely on the heels of acquiring the premium Welsh water and mixer brand, Llanllyr Source in late 2023.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bira welcomes action on compliance for vaping, electrical goods
Photo: iStock

Bira welcomes action on compliance for vaping, electrical goods

Bira (the), which represents 6,000 independent retailers across the UK, says the extension of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) regulations will finally create a level playing field between high street and online sellers.

"Electrical equipment like vapes are being sold in the UK by producers who are failing to pay their fair share when recycling and reusing of dealing with old or broken items," announced circular economy minister Mary Creagh on December 10. "Today, we're ending this: creating a level playing field for all producers of electronics, to ensure fairness and fund the cost of the treatment of waste electricals.

Keep ReadingShow less