CABINET COUP
Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid RESIGN from Cabinet with devastating call for Boris Johnson to quit
RISHI Sunak and Sajid Javid have both tonight sensationally resigned from the Cabinet in a devastating hammer blow to Boris Johnson.
The Chancellor and Health Secretary dramatically wielded the knife as the PM reels from the fallout of the Chris Pincher scandal.
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The naked coup attempt came just minutes after the PM gave a grovelling apology for appointing the shamed MP to a top job.
Downing St was today forced to admit Mr Johnson WAS aware of complaints against Pincher when he made him deputy chief whip.
In a blistering resignation letter, Mr Sunak said: "The public rightly expects 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.”
After constant talk of tension between No10 and No11, Mr Sunak added that it was time for the public to "hear the truth".
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Mr Javid demanded the PM throw in the towel for the good of the Conservative Party - and the country.
He said: "The vote of confidence last month showed that a large number of our colleagues agree. It was a moment for humility, grip and new direction.
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"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."
A slew of other Cabinet Ministers quickly confirmed they were sticking by their embattled boss, who has fought multiple woes this past year.
Brexit Opportunities Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg tonight said that Boris Johnson remains "unflappable", amid a leadership crisis prompted by the resignation of the Chancellor and the Health Secretary.
Mr Rees-Mogg, who is among the Cabinet ministers still backing the Prime Minister, said he hopes to see Mr Johnson continue as leader of the Conservative Party, despite the loss of Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid.
Mr Johnson's mood is "business as usual, he has got a job to do", Mr Rees-Mogg said.
In key developments:
- The PM toured the Commons tea room to appeal to Tory MPs
- Junior Tory frontbenchers also resigned this evening
- Rebel Conservatives sharpened their knives as the saga exploded
- Cabinet looked glum as they gathered for their weekly meeting
- Mr Johnson prepared for a double Commons grilling tomorrow
Minutes before Mr Sunak and Mr Javid walked out the PM gave a grovelling apology for the botched handling of the Pincher saga.
Embattled BoJo said tonight: ";I think it was a mistake and I apologise for it. In hindsight it was the wrong thing to do.
"I apologise to everybody who has been badly affected by it. I 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."
No10 has been consumed in crisis since The Sun last week revealed Pincher allegedly drunkenly groped two men in a swanky club.
Our explosive story saw Pincher resign from the government and sparked a slew of other sordid claims against the disgraced MP.
Adding to the night of long knives, this evening three PPS's - MPs serving in the lowest rung of government - stepped down from their posts.
Mr Javid's right hand man and Tory rising star Saqib Bhatti said that "recent events have undermined trust and standards in public life".
Jonathan Gullis, who served as a PPS to Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis, said that "for far too long we have been more focused on dealing with our reputational damage than delivering for the people of this country".
Boris Johnson's string of woes
BORIS Johnson has suffered a string of woes this past year.
- Owen Patterson – The first big blow to the PM’s popularity came when he tried to save the skin of pal Owen Paterson. The former MP was found guilty of breaking lobbying rules by parliament’s sleaze watchdog. Instead of accepting the finding, Mr Johnson tried to change the rules of the game and exonerate his mate. It caused huge backlash across the Commons and the PM was forced into an embarrassing U-turn. Mr Paterson resigned as an MP and his constituency turned Lib Dem at the by-election that followed.
- Partygate - A tidal wave of shock revelations that Downing Street staff were boozing and boogying while the rest of the country was locked down sent the PM’s popularity spiralling. His own MPs were fuming that the chief enforcer of shutting down freedom was leading an office where the party raged on.
- By-elections - The PM suffered a major blow last month when the Tories lost two by-elections in 24 hours. Red Wall brick Wakefield was snatched up by Labour while posh Tiverton and Honiton in Devon turned Lib Dem. Both by-elections were triggered by Tories forced into shameful resignations for sex pest behaviour.
- Cost of living crisis – Across the Tory party MPs and members have been outraged at soaring tax rates as working people across the country struggle with rising inflation.
Mr Gullis' resignation caused shockwaves around Westminster as the fiery MP has previously been a loyal supporter and staunch backer of the PM.
Rising star Bim Afolomi bid farewell to his job as Conservative Party Vice Chairman live on TalkTV.
Conservative MP Nicola Richards quit her role as parliamentary private secretary to the Department for Transport tonight, stating she cannot serve "under the current circumstances".
Ynys Mon MP Virginia Crosbie has also resigned as PPS to the Wales Office, writing "I have no idea what is happening at Downing Street but it appears you are badly advised" in a letter to the PM.
MP Alex Chalk also quit as Solicitor General - a senior post one rung down from the Cabinet - saying his confidence in the government has "irretrievably broken down".
Boris Johnson responded to Mr Sunak's departure as chancellor, saying he was "sorry" to have received Mr Sunak's resignation letter and praising his "outstanding service".
In a letter, the Prime Minister wrote: "Dear Rishi, I was sorry to receive your letter resigning from the Government.
"You have provided outstanding service to the country through the most challenging period for our economy in peacetime history".
He noted the furlough scheme, Mr Sunak's work on post-pandemic economic recovery and to repair public finances, as well as tax cuts.
And the PM told Mr Javid he was "sorry" to receive his resignation letter as health secretary and suggested his Government would "continue to deliver" plans for the NHS.
In a brief letter, the Prime Minister wrote: "Dear Saj, Thank you for your letter this evening tendering your resignation. I was very sorry to receive it.
"You have served this Government, and the people of the United Kingdom, with distinction."
No10 U-turn
No10 was today forced to admit Mr Johnson had been told of serious complaints against Pincher before making him deputy chief whip in February this year.
Downing St had previously insisted the PM was not aware of any "specific allegations" that were upheld against the Tamworth MP.
But they U-turned after a former top civil servant bulldozed this line with a counterclaim that Mr Johnson was "briefed in person" about an investigation into Pincher's "inappropriate behaviour" in 2019.
Lord McDonald published a blistering letter accusing No10 of lying and insisted the PM was told about claims made by foreign office staff.
The PM's spokesman today said No10 botched its position because Mr Johnson forgot he was made aware of the Pincher claims.
Speaking to reporters in his Commons office he did not deny joking: "Pincher by name, Pincher by nature."
He said: "What I can tell you is that, if I look at the background of this and why I regret it so much, is that 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, orally, I was briefed on what had happened. If I had my time again I would think back on it and recognise that he wasn't going to learn a lesson and he wasn't going to change and I regret that.
"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."
Cabinet Minister Michael Ellis faced a torrid time in the Commons as he was wheeled out to defend his embattled boss.
Sir Bernard Jenkin demanded to know why those with "the wrong attitudes and the wrong behaviours" are promoted by their leaders.
He asked: "Isn't that exactly what gives permission for the wrong attitudes and the wrong behaviours to persist?"
Fellow Tory MP Dr Caroline Johnson raged that Pincher was allowed a government job
She fumed: "Why wasn't he sacked at the time, never mind given another job?"
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Mr Johnson worked the Commons tea room tonight to win round wavering MPs.
One Tory MP said he "wasn't bouncing off the walls" but was pretty "well-received" by colleagues.
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