LONDON (Parliament Politics Magazine) – After 38 resignations since Tuesday evening, if Boris Johnson stays as leader, he will need to rebuild his administration.
Since the PM was forced to apologise for his handling of the Chris Pincher controversy after it became clear that he had forgotten about being informed of prior claims of “inappropriate” behaviour, the letters have been coming in at a breakneck pace.
So who made the decision to leave?
- Rishi Sunak‘s resignation is unquestionably the most crucial. The chancellor declared he was no longer able to support the prime minister.
- Sajid Javid, the health secretary, also quit. He claimed that while voters currently believed the present government was neither competent nor operating in the interest of the country. The British people expected integrity from their government.
- Will Quince, the minister for children and families, resigned, claiming he had no option after citing briefings from Number 10 when he appeared on Sky News on Monday to defend Mr. Johnson that were now discovered to be false.
- The next to go was Robin Walker, the schools minister. He claimed that mistakes and integrity concerns have “overshadowed” the government.
- Victoria Atkins has resigned as minister of justice, citing that “we can and must be better than this” and that she could no longer pirouette around their divided values.
- John Glen, the Treasury Minister, resigned and informed Boris Johnson of his decision, saying he could no longer reconcile his devotion to the post with the complete lack of trust he had in his continuing leadership of their country.
- Jo Churchill, the environment minister, also criticised the PM in her letter of resignation, urging for a leader who would lead with competence and integrity rather than a “jocular self-serving approach.”
- Stuart Andrew, the housing minister, resigned after claiming that their party, especially their members, and more crucially their wonderful country, deserved better.
- Mims Davies, the employment minister, announced her resignation, claiming the Conservative Party needed a new start.
- By signing a letter jointly, five junior ministers coordinated their resignations. They are Julia Lopez, Lee Rowley, Alex Burghart, Kemi Badenoch and Neil O’Brien.
- Rachel Maclean left her position as the Home Office’s minister for safeguarding after stating that the prime minister should step down for the welfare of the nation and their party.
- Mike Freer resigned from his positions as minister of exports and minister of equal opportunities, citing the “creation of an atmosphere of hatred for LGBT+ individuals” and the fact that “I can no longer defend policies I strongly disagree with.”
Who else has declared they will go:
- Laura Trott quit as parliamentary private secretary at the Department of Transport
- Alex Chalk, the solicitor general, resigned.
- Andrew Murrison left his position as Morocco’s trade envoy.
- Bim Afolami, Tory vice chair has resigned.
- Jonathan Gullis has resigned from his position as parliamentary private secretary to the Northern Ireland secretary.
- Saqib Bhatti has resigned from his position as parliamentary private secretary to the health secretary.
- Nicola Richards has quit as parliamentary private secretary for the Department for Transport.
- Virginia Crosbie has resigned from her position as parliamentary private secretary at the Welsh Office
- Claire Coutinho resigned as a parliamentary private secretary to the Treasury.
- David Johnston has left his position as a parliamentary private secretary for the Department for Education
- Felicity Buchan quit as parliamentary private secretary in the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
- Selaine Saxby has left her position as parliamentary private secretary at the Treasury.
- Duncan Baker has left as parliamentary private secretary in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
- Craig Williams has resigned from his position as parliamentary private secretary to the chancellor.
- Mark Logan left his position as parliamentary private secretary to the Ministers for Northern Ireland.
- Theo Clarke, the prime minister’s trade representative to Kenya, has resigned.,Â
- Mark Fletcher quit as the parliamentary private secretary in the Department for Business
- Sara Britcliffe has left her position as .parliamentary private secretary in the Department for Education
- Ruth Edwards has left her position as parliamentary private secretary in the Scotland Office
- Peter Gibson has left his position as parliamentary private secretary in the Department for Trade.
- David Duguid has resigned as Zambia’s and Angola’s trade envoy.
- James Sunderland has left his position as parliamentary private secretary in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
