Robert Buckland tells LBC Johnson 'must go' - then accepts Cabinet position
7 July 2022, 12:59 | Updated: 7 July 2022, 15:52
Robert Buckland must go - then accepts a position
This is the moment Tory MP Sir Robert Buckland told LBC Boris Johnson must "move on and go" - yet five hours later accepted an appointment as a Cabinet minister.
The Prime Minister has since resigned, with the scandal surrounding Chris Pincher proving to be the final nail in the coffin for the Boris Johnson's leadership.
Despite resignation, he said he will "remain in place" until a new Prime Minister is secured, much to the chagrin of many ministers, who are instead calling for an interim leader.
One of those was the MP for South Swindon Robert Buckland, who has been appointed the Secretary of State for Wales hours after he told LBC's Tom Swarbrick the former PM "has no authority" and must "go".
SNP MP's Ian Blackford: 'PM must go today as Govt in crisis'
Sir Robert told Tom: "I think, very very sadly, that we're in a position now where any reasonable observer would say he no longer has any authority.
"He has a choice this morning: he can either tough it out and wait for the Conservative Parliamentary Party, which I think will be inevitably against him, or he can now with some honour."
He continued that Mr Johnson now needs to accept that "he isn't the Government and do what is right not just for the Conservative Party but for the country."
Despite this Robert Buckland has accepted the role, taking over from Simon Hart, one of the Cabinet ministers to descend on No 10 on Wednesday, urging Boris Johnson to quit.
Nadhim Zahawi was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer on Tuesday and was also part of this intervention on Wednesday.
Other newly appointed members of the Cabinet include James Cleverly as Education Secretary, the replacement of Michelle Donelan, who resigned after 48 hours.
Kit Malthouse MP has been appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, replacing Michael Gove, who was fired by the PM on Wednesday. Despite accepting the role, he has stated on Twitter that Boris Johnson has "done the right thing" in announcing his resignation.
Shailesh Vara MP, who has been appointed as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, echoed this sentiment, writing on Twitter that "this was the right decision" by Boris Johnson to leave.
Greg Clarke has been appointed as has been appointed Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and Steve Barclay MP has been appointed Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
Andrew Stephenson, who was transport minister, has been appointed minister without portfolio and will attend cabinet.
