2 hours ago
Finance Ministers Rishi Sunak and Health Minister Sajid Javid have tendered their resignations from the British government on Tuesday evening.
The resignations came minutes following the prime minister apologized for appointing MP Chris Pincher to a government position. Despite being told of previous allegations regarding the MP’s behaviour, Johnson’s handling of the matter was heavily criticized by the opposition and some of his deputies.
In his resignation letter, Rishi Sunak justified his decision by saying that “people expect the government to be run properly, efficiently and seriously” and that “these standards are worth striving for”.
“It has become clear to me that our approaches are completely different,” Health Minister Sajid Javid said he might no longer serve in Boris Johnson’s government “in good conscience”, adding in his resignation letter that he had “lost confidence” in the prime minister.
photo released, Archyde.com
Following the announcement of the news of the two ministers’ resignations, calls for Boris Johnson to resign.
The leader of the opposition Labor Party, Sir Keir Starmer, said the rest of the government ministers should force Johnson to resign “in the national interest”.
Chris Mason analysis
BBC political affairs editor
What we are witnessing tonight – events happening before our eyes moment by moment – is the possible collapse of the government.
Two resignations within half an hour, including the harshest words.
Letters of resignation submitted by both the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health state that they cannot continue to serve the government in good conscience.
This is important because if these resignations continue, it might be very difficult for Boris Johnson to continue as Prime Minister.
photo released, EPA
Representative Chris Pincher apologized for ‘inappropriate behaviour’
Johnson appointed the suspended member of the Conservative Party, Chris Pincher, months ago as deputy head of the monitoring group on the performance of the ruling party’s representatives in the Council.
Over the past years, Pincher has been repeatedly accused of molesting a number of men, but Johnson appointed him without paying attention to these accusations.
The earlier accusations came back to the fore following six new allegations of improper conduct by Pincher surfaced.
A government spokesman said hours earlier that Boris Johnson was unaware of the previous accusations when he chose Pincher for his position.
But the State Department’s former chief civil servant, Simon MacDonald, refuted that claim today, accusing the Prime Minister’s Office of lying.
MacDonald said Johnson had been briefed on an investigation into Pincher, then a secretary of state, at the State Department.
