Boris Johnson's leadership has reached new heights of crisis following the resignation of both chancellor Rishi Sunak and health secretary Sajid Javid. It comes after the prime minister admitted he should have sacked former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher after being told about previous allegations of “inappropriate” conduct.
Mr Pincher resigned last week following claims that he groped two men at a private members’ club, but Mr Johnson was told about allegations against him as far back as 2019. Instead of sacking the minister, Mr Johnson went on to appoint him to other government roles.
In his resignation letter released this afternoon, Mr Sunak said “the public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously”, while Mr Javid said the British people “expect integrity from their government”. He claimed voters now see the PM's administration as neither competent nor “acting in the national interest”.
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The latest resignations will come as a huge blow to the PM, whose position is now even more perilous following a confidence vote which saw 41 per cent of his MPs vote against him and the loss of two crunch by-elections last month.
Betfair predicts that there is now a strong chance Mr Johnson will step down this year following the departures. Spokesperson Sam Rosbottom said: “The odds of Boris Johnson going this year have been slashed to just 1/7 following the shock departure of Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid, meaning there’s now an 87 per cent chance the PM steps down in 2022."
According to Betfair, Penny Mourdant is the new favourite to be the next Conservative leader at 6/1. The Portsmouth North MP has Cabinet experience and is currently a trade minister.
Ms Mourdant is ahead of Jeremy Hunt, Ben Wallace and Liz Truss at 8/1. The Tories are now 3/1 to win an overall majority at the next General Election, while Labour are 4/1.
Sam added: “For a while the odds suggested the PM would stand firm in Number Ten but the betting now suggests a leadership contest may be imminent - with Penny Mourdant in pole position to take charge.”
The latest departures have left two major roles empty in Mr Johnson’s Cabinet. Mr Sunak resigned shortly after 6pm on Tuesday evening, just minutes after Mr Javid.
In Mr Sunak's letter, which he published on Twitter, the now former chancellor said that he could no longer remain loyal to the PM. He told Mr Johnson he was resigning "with deep sadness".
He said: “To leave ministerial office is a serious matter at any time. For me to step down as Chancellor while the world is suffering the economic consequences of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and other serious challenges is a decision that I have not taken lightly. However, the public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously. I recognise this may be my last ministerial job, but I believe these standards are worth fighting for and that is why I am resigning."
Mr Sunak said that he could no longer back Mr Johnson, and that the approaches of the two men were “fundamentally too different”.
Mr Javid told Mr Johnson that the British people “rightly expect integrity from their Government”. He wrote: “The tone you set as 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. We may not have always been popular, but we have been competent in acting in the national interest. Sadly, in the current circumstances, the public are concluding that we are now neither.”
In response to the resignations, Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen said more Cabinet ministers will resign and the PM will be shown the door. The MP for North West Leicestershire said: “I guess they (Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid) finally got where much of the party got weeks if not months ago, that we just can’t carry on like this. What a shambles. It has been a shambles.”
When asked what he thinks prompted Mr Javid and Mr Sunak to resign, Mr Bridgen said: “The Pincher situation and the Prime Minister shown to have been lying again.” On whether he thinks Boris Johnson will resign, the Tory MP said “he will be shown the door” and claimed more Cabinet ministers will resign.
Sources suggest that deputy PM Dominic Raab, home secretary Priti Patel, defence secretary Ben Wallace and foreign secretary Liz Truss will not resign.
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