Nadhim Zahawi will replace Rishi Sunak as Chancellor, Downing Street has said. It comes hours after Chancellor Rishi Sunak resigned earlier tonight (Tuesday) said “the public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously”, implying that Boris Johnson's government is not.
The Health Secretary Sajid Javid also tendered his resignation, saying the British people “expect integrity from their government” but voters now believed Mr Johnson’s administration was neither competent nor “acting in the national interest”.
Mr Zahawi has been moved to the office of the Exchequer from Education. He will be replaced there by Universities Minister Michelle Donelan.
Mr Javid was replaced as Health Secretary by Steve Barclay, the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, earlier tonight. A number of Permanent Parliamentary Secretaries have also handed in their notice tonight.
The Prime Minister is battling to remain in No 10 as his handling of the row over scandal-hit former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher became the latest issue to raise questions over his judgment. A humiliating apology from the Prime Minister was unable to prevent the departure of the two senior ministers and potential leadership rivals.
Trade envoy Andrew Murrison announced he was quitting, blasting the "rolling chaos" at the top of Government. He said other MPs must square "continuing enjoyment of your patronage with their personal sense of decency, honour and integrity but I no longer can".
Jonathan Gullis, a former Red Wall loyalist, resigned as parliamentary private secretary to Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis saying the party had become too focused on "dealing with our reputational damage". Mr Javid's PPS Saqib Bhatti also quit, alongside Grant Shapps ' PPS Nicola Richards and Tory vice chair Bim Afolami, who resigned live on air.
Conservative MP Virginia Crosbie has quit her role as parliamentary private secretary at the Welsh Office, stating she “cannot continue to defend” the Prime Minister’s actions.
