SAJID Javid has resigned from his post as health secretary amid another crisis moment for Prime Minister Boris Johnson as the row over the handling of misconduct claims refuses to go away.
Bromsgrove constituency MP Mr Javid reportedly told the PM he can "no longer, in good conscience, continue serving in this government".
I have spoken to the Prime Minister to tender my resignation as Secretary of State for Health & Social Care.
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) July 5, 2022
It has been an enormous privilege to serve in this role, but I regret that I can no longer continue in good conscience. pic.twitter.com/d5RBFGPqXp
His resignation came as Rishi Sunak, chancellor of the exchequer, quit his post – saying : “The public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously.”
He added: “I believe these standards are worth fighting for and that is why I am resigning.”
The resignations came as Mr Johnson was forced to issue an apology over his handling of the Chris Pincher row after it emerged he’d forgotten about being told of previous allegations of “inappropriate” conduct.
Mr Pincher quit as deputy chief whip last week after claims he groped two men at a private members’ club, but Mr Johnson was told about allegations against him as far back as 2019, PA news agency has reported.
The Prime Minister acknowledged he should have sacked Mr Pincher when he was first told about the claims, but instead he went on to appoint him to other government roles.
Mr Johnson said: “In hindsight it was the wrong thing to do.”
Issuing a grovelling apology to “everybody who has been badly affected by it” – he said: “I want to make absolutely clear that there’s no place in this Government for anybody who is predatory or who abuses their position of power.”
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