‘Furious’ Sajid Javid confronts Boris Johnson over No10’s decision to sack ‘leaker’ senior aide – before insisting they have ‘fantastic relationship’
SAJID Javid angrily confronted Boris Johnson yesterday over No10's decision to sack one of his senior aides without telling him.
The Chancellor was said to be "absolutely furious" and raised his voice as he clashed with the PM over the decision to fire Treasury aide Sonia Khan on the spot over allegations she was leaking Brexit secrets to former boss Philip Hammond.
But this morning he appeared to back down as he insisted he and the PM had a "fantastic relationship"
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme today, he refused to comment further on speculation he had butted heads with the PM.
He said: "I am not going to discuss any personnel issues, it would be inappropriate.
"I think my views are well understood.
"The relationship is fantastic with the Prime Minister."
The PM's most senior advisor Dominic Cummings fired Treasury aide Sonia Khan on the spot on Thursday night after accusing her of misleading him over allegedly continuing her links with Mr Hammond.
And when questioned over Mr Cummings, Mr Javid again refused to comment, saying: "The Prime Minister is my boss and we work together, along with other Cabinet colleagues, to deliver, so I am not here to talk about particular individuals that are advisers in Downing Street."
Mr Javid rejected opposition assertions that Downing Street is not allowing him enough authority over the Treasury, saying: "That's a picture being painted by the Government's opponents.
"Every Government's had opponents. They will always paint pictures that they want to exist, but they are not really there."
It comes after the Chancellor of the Exchequer cancelled on a
A source told The Times that Mr Johnson was "apologetic" about the decision yesterday.
Ms Khan, who is in her 20s, is now the second aide of the Chancellor to be sacked by No10 this summer.
It comes after a tense week between No11 and No10 after the PM announced a key spending pledge without informing the Chancellor.
Insiders said Mr Javid could try to get Ms Khan rehired, saying last night: "He does not consider the matter closed."
'THERE'S THE DOOR'
Mr Cummings refused to back down amid outrage over his behaviour yesterday.
He reportedly told government advisers that if they had a problem with his style of management then they should quit themselves.
He blasted: "If you don't like how I run things, there's the door. F*** off."
Sources said Mr Cummings had demanded the aide hand over both her work and personal phones, which they said revealed she had called people close to Mr Hammond.
The relationship is fantastic with the Prime Minister
Sajid Javid
A source denied reports that Ms Khan had the finger pointed at her for the leak of Operation Yellowhammer documents which revealed confidential government No Deal plans.
A former Whitehall colleague speaking on Ms Khan’s behalf blasted: “It says it all that Dominic Cummings has taken such relish in firing yet another female spad - it’s frankly pretty sick.
"She has no idea what she was accused of. The thought of Sonia - a passionate Leaver - leaking to Hammond and co is just fantasy.”
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A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "On Thursday 29 August, a police officer stationed at the door of No 10 Downing Street escorted a woman from the front door to exit gates as she did not have a security pass at the time. This is standard practice if a visitor does not have a pass.
"The woman was not arrested."
Downing Street declined to comment on the matter.
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