Mr Sunak and Mr Javid sent resignation letters to Mr Johnson within minutes of each other, in which both took aim at his ability to lead a standard-setting administration. Signaling his intention to stay in power for as long as possible, Mr Johnson quickly appointed former businessman and current education minister Nadeem Zahawi as his new finance minister. Steve Barclay, who was appointed to impose discipline on Mr Johnson’s administration in February, has been moved to the health portfolio. Mr Johnson will face questions in parliament and be grilled by senior MPs on Wednesday. He will appear at his weekly questions session, before later facing the chairs of parliamentary committees for a scheduled two-hour grilling. The resignations came as Mr Johnson apologized for appointing a lawmaker to a role involved in providing pastoral care to his party, even after he was told the politician had been the subject of sexual abuse allegations. So far, they are the only two ministers in the Prime Minister’s top cabinet to resign, with other senior officials voicing their support for Mr Johnson. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who is seen as a leading candidate to replace him, said she was “100 per cent behind the prime minister”. Four other MPs resigned from junior government roles, while a trade envoy resigned and a Conservative Party deputy leader resigned from his live television post. The resignations come after months of scandal and mishaps, with Mr Johnson so far under fire over a damning report on parties at his Downing Street residence and office that breached strict COVID-19 lockdowns and fined by the police. There have been other policy reversals, a poor defense of another lawmaker who broke lobbying rules and has also been criticized for not doing enough to tackle a cost-of-living crisis, with many Britons struggling to cope with rising fuel and food prices. Economists say the country is now headed for a sharp slowdown or possibly a recession. Both Mr Sunak and Mr Javid have previously publicly backed Mr Johnson, but their letters said as much. Mr Sunak, who is said to have clashed privately with the prime minister over spending, said: “To resign as chancellor [of the Exchequer] While the world suffers the economic consequences of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and other serious challenges is a decision I did not take lightly.” “The public rightly expects the government to behave properly, competently and seriously,” he added. “I recognize that this may be my last ministerial job, but I believe these standards are worth striving for and that is why I am stepping down.” Mr Sunak had won plaudits for a steady response to the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic, but was badly damaged by revelations that his wife had evaded paying some taxes in Britain. Mr Javid said many lawmakers and the public had lost confidence in Mr Johnson’s ability to govern in the national interest. “It is clear to me that this situation will not change under your leadership – and therefore you have lost my trust as well,” his letter said. The pound fell after Mr Sunak’s resignation, but economists said Mr Johnson’s removal could bring much-needed stability and provide a boost to sterling and markets in the medium term. The resignations came minutes after Mr Johnson went on television to apologize for appointing lawmaker Christopher Pincher to a role involved in offering pastoral care to the Conservative Party, his latest public expression of remorse for his mistakes. “I apologize to everyone who has been greatly affected by this,” Mr Johnson told broadcasters. “I just want to make it absolutely clear that there is no place in this government for anyone who is predatory or who abuses their position of power.” Mr Pincher’s resignation last Thursday prompted days of a shift in the narrative from Downing Street about what the prime minister knew about the deputy chief whip’s behavior and when he knew it. Earlier on Tuesday, after a former senior official accused Mr Johnson’s office of lying, the Prime Minister’s spokesman was forced into a swift U-turn to say the British leader had been briefed “in some form” about the affair but had forgotten. . week. For many in the ruling party, another allegation of lying and the memory loss explanation deepened their frustration with Mr Johnson’s government, which some lawmakers say is paralyzed by having to deal with scandals. Some conservative lawmakers are seeking to renew efforts to oust him, just a month after the Prime Minister survived a confidence vote, while others earlier called on cabinet ministers to move against Mr Johnson. “It’s over,” said one former loyalist Conservative MP, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It must not prolong the agony. It is disrespectful to his colleagues, his party and his country.” Another loyal lawmaker agreed: “It’s all over. I’d be surprised if it lasts until the summer now.” But some party veterans said Mr Johnson, who close aides say is relishing a fight, could stay and hope to restore his administration. Opposition Labor leader Keir Starmer said those who supported Mr Johnson were complicit in the way he had carried out his job. “After all the dirt, the scandals and the failure, it is clear that this government is collapsing,” he said. Our Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.
