It has been a huge privilege to serve our country as Chancellor of the Exchequer and I will always be proud of how during the pandemic we have protected people’s jobs and businesses through actions like leave. Resignation from ministerial office is a serious matter at any time. For me to step down as chancellor while the world is suffering the economic consequences of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and other serious challenges is a decision I did not take lightly. However, the public rightly expects the government to behave properly, competently and seriously. I recognize that this may be my last ministerial job, but I believe these standards are worth fighting for, and that is why I am stepping down. I stayed loyal to you. I supported you to become our Party Leader and encouraged others to do so. I served as your chancellor with gratitude that you entrusted me with the management of the country’s economy and finances. Above all, I respected the strong mandate you were given by the British people in 2019 and how, under your leadership, we broke the Brexit deadlock. That’s why I’ve always tried to compromise to bring about the things you want to achieve. On those occasions when I have disagreed with you privately, I have supported you publicly. This is the nature of the collective government our system is based on and it is particularly important that the Prime Minister and Chancellor remain united in difficult times such as those we are experiencing today. Our country faces enormous challenges. We both want a low-tax, high-growth economy and world-class public services, but this can only be responsibly delivered if we are prepared to work hard, make sacrifices and make tough decisions. I firmly believe that the public is ready to hear this truth. Our people know that if something is too good to be true, then it isn’t. They need to know that while there is a path to a better future, it is not easy. In preparation for our proposed joint speech on the economy next week, it became clear to me that our approaches are fundamentally very different. I am sorry to be leaving the government, but I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that we cannot go on like this. Greetings, Rishi Sunak
