A number of junior government members also resigned, with many Tory MPs believing the cabinet mutiny could signal the beginning of the end for Johnson. But there was relief in Downing Street when a number of other senior figures – including deputy prime minister Dominic Raab, foreign secretary Liz Truss, defense secretary Ben Wallace and acting secretary Michael Gove – said they were staying. Johnson immediately began to reshuffle his cabinet. Steve Barclay, former finance minister and currently Johnson’s chief of staff, will replace Javid as health secretary. Many Conservative MPs believe Johnson’s premiership is nearing its end. Last month, more than 40 percent of MPs expressed a lack of confidence in their leader and cabinet unity has broken down. Sunak and Javid criticized the prime minister’s conduct, with Sunak saying in a laudatory resignation letter: “Citizens rightly expect the government to behave properly, competently and seriously.”

On a day when Johnson’s honesty was called into question, Sunak suggested the prime minister was prepared to mislead voters about the dire state the economy is in and the need for “difficult decisions”. “I think the public is ready to hear the truth,” he said, adding that he and Johnson “fundamentally” disagreed on economic policy. “Our people know that if something is too good to be true, then it isn’t.” Loyal Tory MPs said Johnson had told them he was now more likely to propose early tax cuts, a policy popular with the Tory right but which Sunak fears could fuel inflation as price rises head towards two digit number. Johnson also wants to reverse a planned rise in corporate tax from 19 percent to 25 percent next year, a move opposed by Sunak, who believed the increase was necessary to restore public finances. Sunak’s resignation came minutes after his old friend Javid quit. In his letter, Javid said: “The tone you set as a leader, the values ​​you represent, reflect on your colleagues, your party and ultimately the country.” The resignations of Sunak and Javid followed the forced departure of disgraced former deputy captain Chris Pincher last week after allegations he growled at two men while drunk at a private members’ club. Downing Street insisted for days that Johnson had not been told of “specific allegations” of misconduct by Mr Pincher in the past. On Tuesday, Johnson admitted he had been made aware of the charges in 2019 — but had forgotten. “It’s an absolute disgrace,” said one minister. With ministers unwilling to defend him publicly, the prime minister gave a BBC interview before the resignations in which he apologized for appointing Pincher as deputy leader in February. “In hindsight it was the wrong thing to do,” he said. But as Johnson’s belated apology aired, Javid announced he was going. The health secretary, who previously stood down as chancellor in 2020 after a power struggle with Number 10, believes he can be a unifying figure as a future Tory leader. Javid said in his resignation letter: “The vote of confidence last month showed that a large number of our colleagues agree. It was a moment for humility, holding on and new direction. I am sorry to say, however, that it is clear to me that this situation will not change under your leadership.” Sunak’s allies insisted the twin resignations were not coordinated, but their exit from the cabinet now means Johnson has two potential leadership rivals sitting in the backseat. The former chancellor said he and Johnson took approaches to the economy that were “fundamentally very different”. A proposed joint economic speech by the two men had proved impossible to agree on. A minister allied to Sunak said the main difference between the outgoing chancellor and the prime minister was that “one is sane, the other is a clown”. Johnson was on Tuesday finalizing his choice to replace Sunak as chancellor, with speculation that Nahim Zahawi, the education minister, could move to the Treasury. Markets will be watching for signals about what a chancellor change will mean for future economic policy, including the possibility of a looser fiscal regime that could force the Bank of England to raise interest rates more quickly. Several Conservative MPs called on Johnson to resign on Tuesday night. Next week the party will elect a new member of its 1922 backbench committee, which sets the rules for leadership contests. A range of anti-Johnson candidates are expected to push for a change in party rules to allow another early vote of no confidence in the prime minister. Current rules say such a vote can only take place every 12 months. Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labor Party, said: “After all the dirt, scandals and failure, it is clear that this government is now collapsing.” Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: “A house of cards built on lies and deceit is falling apart.”