LIVE UPDATES: Boris Johnson‘s future in doubt after Javid,Sunak resignations…follow CityNews live updates on the fall-outs of Pincher-gate..
Javid/Sunak resignations – what we know
It could all be over for Boris Johnson – although quite how long it will take his enemies to finish him off is not at all clear and his defenestration does not look immediate. The two byelection defeats almost two weeks ago prompted calls for cabinet ministers to mount a coup against Boris Johnson, and it finally it seems to be happening.
We have not had confirmation yet, but it is impossible to believe that the resignations of Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak were not coordinated. Perhaps there are more to come.
The Sunak resignation is the most serious of the two. Since the spring statement, the chancellor has not been the obvious heir apparent he once was. But he is still a powerful figure in the party. The resignation of Nigel Lawson helped to bring down Margaret Thatcher, although it took just over a year for that to eventually play out.
Even if there are no more resignations, the mood in the Conservative party has already turned against Johnson – perhaps decisively.
Under current rules Johnson is safe from another leadership challenge until next summer. But the executive of the 1922 Committee can change the rules whenever it wants. A new anti-Johnson executive is expected to be elected next week, but even the current executive – more evently split between loyalists and critics – could act now if it felt there was a consensus in the party.
Johnson is famously stubborn, and he is unlikely to quit just because two ministers have decided to go. But increasingly Conservative MPs believe they have no chance of winning the next election under his leadership. Ultimately that assessment should prove decisive.
Summary
- Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid quit Boris Johnson’s cabinet amid a row over the handling of misconduct claims against ex-Deputy Chief Whip Chris Pincher
- Sunak says the public expect “government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously”
- Javid tells the PM he can “no longer, in good conscience, continue serving in this government”
- Boris Johnson has been under pressure after a series of statements relating to the conduct of a Conservative MP, Chris Pincher
- The prime minister won a vote of no confidence in his leadership last month, though 148 of his own MPs voted against him
- His success in that vote means he is protected from a further vote of no confidence for a year
- Some Tory MPs have called for the rules to be changed to enable an earlier vote
Johnson says he wanted to give Chris Pincher chance ‘to prove he could do better’
Here are the main points from Boris Johnson’s pooled TV clip (which is already old news, I’m afraid).
- Johnson apologised for appointing Chris Pincher to his government. He gave Pincher two ministerial jobs before making him deputy chief whip in February. Asked if that was a grave mistake, Johnson replied:
Yes, I think it was a mistake and I apologise for it. I think, in hindsight, it was the wrong thing to do. I apologise to everybody who’s been badly affected by it. I just want to make absolutely clear that there’s no place in this government for anybody who is predatory or who abuses their position of power.
- Johnson did not deny once calling the MP “Pincher by name, pincher by nature”.
- Johnson said that, if he had the chance again, he would have sacked Pincher following the inappropriate incident when he was in the Foreign Office. He said:
About three years ago, there was a complaint made against Chris Pincher in the Foreign Office. The complaint was cleared up, he apologised, it was raised with me. Already I was briefed on what had happened. And, you know, if I had my time again I would think back on it and recognise that he wasn’t going to learn anything and he wasn’t going to change and I regret that.
- Johnson rejected claims he asked his press office to lie on his behalf about what he knew about the Pincher allegations. When this was put to him, Johnson replied:
No, and let me explain what happened. So this is the… we’re talking about a series of events, or a series of appointments over several years. So Chris Pincher came into government a deputy chief whip before I became prime minister, he was moved to the Foreign Office. He then went on to be a minister for housing. And we then moved him back to be deputy chief whip.
As I say, about two and a half years ago I got this complaint. It was something that was only raised with me very cursorily. But I wish that we had – I, in particular – had acted on it, and that he had not continued in government, because he then went on, I’m afraid, to behave – as far as we can see, according to the allegations that we have – very, very badly and I’m sorry for those who’ve been badly affected by it.
When it was put to Johnson that his office said he was not aware of specific allegations about Pincher, when he was told about the 2019 one, Johnson said he forgot he had been told about that. He went on:
I’m afraid, focusing on other things at the time. But what I’m telling you now is my recollection of events. And my recollection is that there was one complaint that was raised with me specifically [the one discussed with him in February 2020].
- Johnson said he wanted to give Pincher a second chance. He said:
What I wanted was to give Chris Pincher, if not the benefit of the doubt, then the ability to prove that he could do better. And I’m afraid that he couldn’t. And I feel very, very bitterly disappointed and also sorry for the mistake I made.
- He insisted people could trust him. When he was asked if people could trust him, he replied:
Of course they can. I’m telling you exactly what happened. And I’m coming out to explain it. Because I’m fed up with people, if I may say so saying things on my behalf or trying to say.
That’s all from me for tonight. My colleague Nadeem Badshah is taking over now.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid says he can no longer serve in Boris Johnson’s government in “good conscience”. With Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, also quitting, Boris Johnson is in a difficult situation.
Setting out his decision to quit in a letter, Javid says:
Quote Message: I am instinctively a team player but the British people also rightly expect integrity from their Government. The tone you set as a 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.”I am instinctively a team player but the British people also rightly expect integrity from their Government. The tone you set as a 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.”
Quote Message: Sadly, in the current circumstances, the public are concluding that we are now neither. The vote of confidence last month showed that a large number of our colleagues agree. It was a moment for humility, grip and a new direction. 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.”Sadly, in the current circumstances, the public are concluding that we are now neither. The vote of confidence last month showed that a large number of our colleagues agree. It was a moment for humility, grip and a new direction. 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.”
The man who used to be in charge of Conservative Party discipline in the House of Commons has praised the chancellor and health secretary for quitting Boris Johnson’s cabinet.
Former Chief Whip Mark Harper tweeted: “Tonight we have seen leadership from Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid.
“Honourable decisions made by honourable men. The Conservative Party still has so much to offer to our country. It’s time for a fresh start.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has told journalists that ministers should act in the national interest to remove Prime Minister Boris Johnson from office.
Starmer says they should resign or force him to resign.
Sir Keir Starmer said “it’s clear that this Government is now collapsing” and said Cabinet ministers who have resigned have been “complicit” as the Prime Minister “disgraced his office”.
The Labour leader said: “After all the sleaze, the scandals and the failure, it’s clear that this Government is now collapsing. Tory cabinet ministers have known all along who this Prime Minister is.
They have been his cheerleaders throughout this sorry saga:
– backing him when he broke the law
– backing him when he lied repeatedly
– backing him when he mocked the sacrifices of the British people.
“In doing so, they have been complicit every step of the way as he has disgraced his office and let down his country. If they had a shred of integrity they would have gone months ago.
“The British public will not be fooled. The Tory party is corrupted and changing one man won’t fix that.
“Only a real change of government can give Britain the fresh start it needs.”
PM finds himself in a very precarious position
The prime minister finds himself in a very precarious position after the resignation of two of the key ministers in his government.
News of two cabinet resignations in the wake of a few very difficult days for Johnson and his government will have left him wondering if he can continue with any kind of authority.
To lose one Cabinet minister might have been survivable but, arguably, losing two of the biggest jobs in government might not be.
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey has tweeted that the prime minister should “go and go now”.
His words echoed those of Lib Dem MP Richard Foord when he triumphantly defeated the Conservatives to win the by-election in Tiverton and Honiton last month.
“You have discredited our great country long enough,” wrote Sir Ed on Twitter, as news of the two major Cabinet resignations broke.
Social embed from twitter
