Quince said he was given a “categorical assurance” by No 10 that Johnson was not aware of any “specific” allegations against Pincher when he appointed him to the post of deputy chief whip earlier this year. This was not true. Quince says in his resignation letter that he spoke with Johnson last night and that Johnson offered a “sincere apology.” But Quince says he should resign anyway because he repeated what No 10 told him in “good faith”. He’s essentially saying that he considers saying things that are untrue to the public as a matter of resignation – even though he wasn’t at fault. There are many of his colleagues who do not apply the same standard and have given false information to viewers under a No 10 update, but they have not resigned. In his letter Quince says: Dear prime minister. Thank you for meeting with me yesterday afternoon and for your sincere apology regarding the updates I received from No 10 prior to Monday’s media round, which we now know to be inaccurate. It is with great sadness and regret that I feel I have no choice but to tender my resignation as Minister for Children and Families as I have accepted and repeated these assurances in good faith. It is with great sadness and regret that I submitted my resignation to the Prime Minister this morning, having also received repeated assurances on Monday in the media, which have now been found to be inaccurate. I wish my successor well – it’s the best job in government. pic.twitter.com/65EOmHd47p — Will Quince MP 🇬🇧 (@willquince) July 6, 2022 Updated at 09.00 BST Important events: Show only key events Sajid Javid took no questions as he left his south-west London home this morning after resigning as health secretary last night. According to the Evening Standard, as he got into his car he told reporters: “Good morning, thank you for coming. I am glad to see you.” Sajid Javid leaves his home this morning after resigning as health secretary yesterday. Photo: Maja Smiejkowska/ReutersBroadcasters outside Downing Street this morning. Photo: Frank Augstein/AP The Tory papers have (mostly) turned on Boris Johnson this morning. Here’s a roundup. If he can stay in office for three more days, Boris Johnson will have served as prime minister longer than Neville Chamberlain, according to Talk TV’s Tom Newton Dunn. Boris Johnson needs to continue as Prime Minister for another 3 days to beat Neville Chamberlain’s length of service and 33 days to beat Theresa May (he would love to do both, at the very least). Will he do either? Nobody knows yet. pic.twitter.com/loPDcJXnVR — Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) July 6, 2022 Updated at 08.57 BST

Will Quince resigns as minister, saying he had ‘no choice’ after using false information from No 10 in interviews

And Will Quince has resigned as minister for children and families. Quince defended Boris Johnson in interviews on Monday and says he resigned because he used false information in those interviews given to him by No 10. Quince said he was given a “categorical assurance” by No 10 that Johnson was not aware of any “specific” allegations against Pincher when he appointed him to the post of deputy chief whip earlier this year. This was not true. Quince says in his resignation letter that he spoke with Johnson last night and that Johnson offered a “sincere apology.” But Quince says he should resign anyway because he repeated what No 10 told him in “good faith”. He’s essentially saying that he considers saying things that are untrue to the public as a matter of resignation – even though he wasn’t at fault. There are many of his colleagues who do not apply the same standard and have given false information to viewers under a No 10 update, but they have not resigned. In his letter Quince says: Dear prime minister. Thank you for meeting with me yesterday afternoon and for your sincere apology regarding the updates I received from No 10 prior to Monday’s media round, which we now know to be inaccurate. It is with great sadness and regret that I feel I have no choice but to tender my resignation as Minister for Children and Families as I have accepted and repeated these assurances in good faith. It is with great sadness and regret that I submitted my resignation to the Prime Minister this morning, having also received repeated assurances on Monday in the media, which have now been found to be inaccurate. I wish my successor well – it’s the best job in government. pic.twitter.com/65EOmHd47p — Will Quince MP 🇬🇧 (@willquince) July 6, 2022 Updated at 09.00 BST

Laura Trott quits PPS at transport department, says trust in policy ‘paramount’

Laura Trott has just resigned as PPS (Parliamentary Private Secretary). She has posted it herself on her Facebook page. I want to inform you all that I have resigned from my position as Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Department of Transport. Trust in politics is – and always should be – of the utmost importance, but unfortunately in recent months this has been lost. Thanks to all of you who wrote to me expressing your views. I read them carefully and took them into account as part of my decision. I have and will always put the people of Sevenoaks and Swanley front and center in my work at Westminster. Updated at 08.48 BST Q: On inflation, there’s an argument that you can’t afford tax cuts when inflation is a problem because that will feed inflation. This is what Rishi Sunak thought. But there is another argument that tax cuts are needed because they will fuel growth. Is that why you were appointed? Zahawi says this is not right. He says he was appointed because he would be guided by evidence. It will rebuild the economy and promote growth. Zahawi has now slipped into talking about the vaccine program, saying a focus on data, evidence and transparency made it a success. That will do to politics in general, he says. Robinson says the facts and figures show taxes are rising at a high level under this government. Why not tell people the truth? Hard times call for high taxes. Zahawi says he is focused on promoting growth. 2023 will be difficult for growth. Q: Are taxes going up? Zahawi says “Yes,” but moves on quickly. Updated 09.07 BST Zahawi says the prime minister told him last night to focus on “delivery, delivery, delivery”. But it has to be a team effort. Continues: Divided groups do not attract votes. (This does not bode well for Zahawi’s party, given everything else being said by his Tory colleagues today.) Q: Everything the ministers told us about what No 10 knew about Chris Pincher was untrue. Only when Simon McDonald spoke did they tell the truth? Zahawi says the prime minister apologized last night. “In my view it’s good leadership,” says Zahawi (referring to sorry for your error). Q: But you and he didn’t tell the truth when you said he didn’t know about the Pincher allegations when he appointed him. Zahawi says he was telling the truth as far as he knows. He tries to change the subject and says they have a big challenge ahead of them. The people trying to turn the Tories against each other are people like Alastair Campbell, he says. Robinson says it is “insulting” to claim this crisis was just created by the government’s opponents. Nadhim Zahawi, the new chancellor, is now being interviewed by Nick Robinson on the Today programme. Q: Why was it in the country’s interest, as opposed to yours, that you stay in the cabinet? Why we face a global battle against inflation, says Zahawi. And we have war on our continent. Many people struggle with their bills. Today sees the biggest personal tax cut in a decade (the rise in the national insurance threshold). Q: Don’t you agree with Rishi Sunak, who said that government should be run properly and competently? And you don’t agree with Sajid Javid who said the government must have integrity. Zahawi says Boris Johnson apologized for dating Chris Pincher. He says governments make decisions quickly and don’t get everything right.