‘Enough is enough’: Sajid Javid slams Boris in heartfelt demand for PM to go

6 July 2022, 12:59 | Updated: 6 July 2022, 15:47

Sajid Javid's resignation statement

Former Health Secretary Sajid Javid delivered a poignant statement to MPs today after he resigned from the government, telling the Commons "enough is enough" and it's time for a change of leadership.

Mr Javid was congratulated by fellow MPs as he resumed his seat after giving the powerful speech. He said "the reset button can only work so many times".

He said he was no longer willing to risk "losing his integrity" by serving in Boris Johnson's government.

The former Health Secretary was the first MP to resign from government following the Prime Minister's grovelling apology for hiring Chris Pincher as deputy chief whip, despite knowing of an investigation into his conduct.

Mr Javid was closely followed by then Chancellor Rishi Sunak, and a swarm of junior ministers, with over 20 resignations from Tory MPs in less than 24 hours in a mass exodus from government.

Mr Johnson has since appointed Nadhim Zahawi as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Steve Barclay as Health Secretary.

Meanwhile, it's been reported that Michael Gove, has told Mr Johnson he must go.

The Levelling Up Secretary was nowhere to be seen in the Commons as the Prime Minister took a battering during PMQs.

According to Mail Plus, it was because he had just told him to resign.

In his resignation speech on Wednesday, Mr Javid told MPs he is "instinctively a team player" but told the Commons: "Treading the tightrope between loyalty and integrity has become impossible in recent months.

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Sajid Javid leaves home after quitting Boris Johnson's Cabinet

"I will never risk losing my integrity.

"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."

He added it is "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," he said.

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'Will the Prime Minister finally tell us the truth?'

"And it's not fair on Conservative members and voters who rightly expect better standards from the party they supported."

He told MPs that "enough is enough".

Mr Javid appeared to also use his heartfelt speech to call on other members of the Cabinet to join him in making a stand.

He said that "not doing something is an active decision".

Read more: Read Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid's resignation letters in full

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 damning speech by Mr Javid and an exodus from his Government, Mr Johnson told MPs his job is to "keep going".

"Frankly Mr Speaker, the job of a Prime Minister in difficult circumstances when he has been handed a colossal mandate is to keep going and that is what I am going to do."

Mr Johnson is confident he will be able to fill the posts of all the ministers and parliamentary aides who have resigned, his press secretary said.

Which MPs have announced their decision to quit Mr Johnson's government?

Cabinet

• Chancellor Rishi Sunak

Quit last night writing: “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.”

• Health Secretary Sajid Javid

Left the government last night within minutes of the Chancellor, writing: “I regret that I can no longer continue in good conscience.”

Ministers

• Will Quince, education minister

Resigned this morning after being sent out on TV to defend the PM days ago, saying Downing Street briefings "have now been found to be inaccurate".

• Alex Chalk, solicitor general

The most high-profile of the resignations from outside of the Cabinet, Mr Chalk said that he could not "defend the indefensible".

• Robin Walker, schools minister

Minister for Schools Robin Walker said: "Unfortunately, recent events have made it clear to me that our great party, for which I have campaigned all of my adult life, has become distracted from its core missions by a relentless focus on questions of leadership."

• Stuart Andrew, housing minister

The MP for Pudsey said he has "no other choice than to resign".

"Loyalty and unity are traits that I have always endeavoured to provide for our great party. However, I fear I have let these override my judgement recently. There comes a time when you have to look at your own personal integrity and that time is now."

• Jo Churchill, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs minister

The junior minister said "the country and party deserves better", and a "clear, self-less vision is needed".

• Victoria Atkins, Home Office minister

The MP for Louth and Horncastle wrote: "The casual mistreatment of Minister Will Quince and the revelations contained in Lord McDonald's letter highlight just how far your government has fallen from these ideals. I can no longer pirouette around our fractured values. We can and must be better than this."

• John Glen, City minister and economic secretary to the Treasury

The Tory MP for Salisbury said Boris Johnson's "poor judgement" made it "impossible for me to square continued service with my conscience" in his resignation letter.

• Kemi Badenoch, minister for levelling up and equalities
• Neil O'Brien, minister for levelling up, housing and communities
• Lee Rowley, minister for industry
• Alex Burghart, minister for skills
• Julia Lopez, minister for media, data and digital infrastructure
• Mims Davies, employment minister
• Rachel Maclean, safeguarding minister

The Mid Sussex MP resigned saying the Conservative Party needed a "fresh start".

Parliamentary private secretaries

• Jonathan Gullis, Northern Ireland Office

In a statement, Mr Gullis tendered his resignation "with a heavy heart", adding that his party has been "more focused on dealing with our reputational damage rather than delivering for the people of this country".

• Saqib Bhatti, Department of Health and Social Care

Mr Bhatti quit his role with a statement that "recent events have undermined trust and standards in public life".

• Nicola Richards, Department of Transport

Ms Richards said in a statement that she could not serve "under the current circumstances".

• Virginia Crosbie, Welsh Office

Ms Crosbie said in a Facebook post that if Mr Johnson is left in office, he will "irrevocably" harm the Government and the Conservative Party.

• Laura Trott, Department of Transport

She said in a Facebook post: "Trust in politics is - and must always be - of the upmost importance, but sadly in recent months this has been lost.

• Selaine Saxby, HM Treasury

In her resignation letter, she said: "Inaction is indeed action, and my silence is not compatible with my views or position."

• Claire Coutinho, HM Treasury
• David Johnston, Department of Education
• Felicity Buchan, Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
• Craig Williams, HM Treasury
• Mark Logan, Northern Ireland Office

Others

• Bim Afolami, vice-chairman of the Conservative Party for youth

Speaking to Talk TV, Mr Afolami announced that he too would have to step down, adding: "I just don't think the Prime Minister any longer has, not just my support, but he doesn't have, I don't think, the support of the party, or indeed the country any more."

• Andrew Murrison, trade envoy to Morocco

In a letter calling for Mr Johnson to resign, Mr Murrison quit his job, saying that the PM's position had become "unrecoverable".

• Theodora Clarke, trade envoy to Kenya

The Stafford MP resigned from her position as trade envoy to Kenya with a statement which said she takes "allegations of sexual misconduct very seriously" and that the Prime Minister had shown a "severe lack of judgment and care" for his parliamentary party.