Sajid Javid has delivered a statement to the House of Commons after resigning as health secretary, stating why he is no longer happy with Boris Johnson's leadership.
He declared that he will no longer "risk losing my integrity" as a cabinet member of the government. Mr Javid was among the first of a wave of resignations from the government on Tuesday evening, which he announced in a letter to Mr Johnson stating he could "no longer, in good conscience, continue serving this government."
The former health secretary said while making a personal statement that he is “instinctively a team player” but told the Commons: “Treading the tightrope between loyalty and integrity has become impossible in recent months.
Read more: Boris Johnson faces Sir Keir Starmer amid even more resignations as government teeters on the brink
“I will never risk losing my integrity.”
He further told the Commons: “I also believe a team is as good as its team captain and a captain is as good as his or her team. So, loyalty must go both ways. The events of recent months have made it increasingly difficult to be in that team.
“It’s not fair on ministerial colleagues to go out every morning defending lines that don’t stand up and don’t hold up. It’s not fair on my parliamentary colleagues, who bear the brunt of constituents’ dismay in their inboxes and on the doorsteps in recent elections.
“And it’s not fair on Conservative members and voters who rightly expect better standards from the party they supported.”
He added that "enough is enough" while telling the Commons: “This week again, we have reason to question the truth and integrity of what we’ve all been told. And at some point we have to conclude that enough is enough.
“I believe that point is now.”
Mr Javid noted that he is giving the Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt over the partygate scandal, but added: "I do fear that the reset button can only work so many times".
He added: “When the first stories of parties in Downing Street emerged late last year I was personally assured at the most senior level by my right honourable friend’s then team that, and I quote, ‘there had been no parties in Downing Street and no rules were broken’.
“So I gave the benefit of doubt. And I went on those media rounds to say that I’d had those assurances from the most senior level of the Prime Minister’s team.
“Then we had more stories. We had the Sue Gray report, a new Downing Street team. I continued to give the benefit of the doubt.”
Mr Javid also gave an apparent message to members of the Cabinet who have remained, stating: "Not doing something is an active decision."
He told MPs: "Last month I gave the benefit of doubt one last time… I have concluded that the problem starts at the top and I believe that is not going to change and that means that it is for those of us in a position who have responsibility to make that change.
“I wish my Cabinet colleagues well and I can see they have decided to remain in the Cabinet. They will have their own reasons.”
Laughter could be heard in the chamber, as Mr Javid went on: “But it is a choice. I know just how difficult that choice is. But let’s be clear, not doing something is an active decision.”
Despite the resignation and scathing words from Sajid Javid, the Prime Minister's press secretary said Boris Johnson is confident he still holds the support of his backbench. She also declared that he would contest another confidence vote if it was held, even though last month's ballot was "clear and decisive".
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