Health Secretary Sajid Javid has defended the Prime Minister this morning (June 8) and said changing Conservative Party rules on confidence votes should not be changed. The Bristolian supported Boris Johnson during the vote on his leadership which was held on Monday in Westminster.
Mr Johnson survived the secret ballot, called after the party's backbench 1922 Committee received 54 letters calling for the vote. However, his future still remains uncertain after 148 MPs from the party voted against him.
Following the results, there have been calls for rules around the votes to be changed as another cannot be held for 12 months. Sir Graham Brady, the 1922 Committee chairman, has suggested to the press that there is scope for rule changes.
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However, Mr Javid has come out fighting the PM's corner today during media interviews. Speaking to Times Radio about the idea of rule changes, he said: “I think most people would think if you sort of changed the rules it would be grossly unfair, it would be the wrong thing to do. So I wouldn’t support that.
“We have very clear, transparent rules and that’s important, that they’re clear and transparent. And if anyone wants to exercise the current rules, which they did, that’s totally their right and I respect my colleagues for that, but the decision has been made.
“And I think what everyone wants to now see is that you end this sort of speculation and we just get on with the job.”
He later told Sky News that Monday's vote was a “clear and decisive win” for the PM. When quizzed over whether Mr Johnson prioritises loyalty over experience as rumours circle about a cabinet reshuffle, Mr Javid said: “First of all, this is just all speculation again.
“We’ve had a very important week, obviously with that important vote. It was a clear and decisive win for the Prime Minister, and speaking to colleagues after that vote yesterday, including some that I spoke to that publicly said they didn’t support the Prime Minister in the vote, but they’re democrats like all of us and they accept the result of the vote and they’re getting behind the Prime Minister.
“What the Prime Minister does next in terms of his Cabinet, his ministers… as always (with) any prime minister, that’s just a decision for them. I’m not spending any time speculating or thinking about that. I’m just getting on with my job as the Health and (Social) Care Secretary.”
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