Cabinet reshuffle: Sajid Javid hits out at Boris Johnson's conditions after quitting as chancellor
Resignation letter says it is ‘important to have trusted teams that reflect the character and integrity you wish to be associated with’
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Your support makes all the difference.Sajid Javid has taken a swipe at Boris Johnson after quitting as chancellor, saying “any self-respecting minister” would reject the conditions the prime minister was offering, as several senior heads rolled in a cabinet reshuffle.
Mr Javid, who had long had tensions with Mr Johnson’s closest adviser, Dominic Cummings, also suggested Mr Johnson was stripping the Treasury of its credibility.
In a bombshell less than a month before the budget, he chose to quit rather than sack his aides, as the prime minister had demanded. He is being replaced by Rishi Sunak, who has been an MP for only five years.
His resignation letter said it was “important as leaders to have trusted teams that reflect the character and integrity that you would wish to be associated with”.
Also in the reshuffle, Mr Johnson sacked Julian Smith as Northern Ireland secretary, Andrea Leadsom as business secretary, Esther McVey as housing minister, Theresa Villiers as environment secretary and Geoffrey Cox as attorney general.
Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell claimed Mr Javid’s shock exit showed Mr Cummings had won “absolute control” of Downing Street and had left the government “in crisis”.
Please see below for what was our live coverage.
Action moves to No 10 after sackings
Boris Johnson has dished out all the bad news (we’ll hear more soon) and is heading back to Downing Street to meet those in line for promotions.
According to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, Suella Braverman might replace Geoffrey Cox as attorney general and Zac Goldsmith could be offered the COP26 climate change summit job.
Theresa Villiers and Geoffrey Cox also axed
Theresa Villiers has lost her job as DEFRA secretary, while Geoffrey Cox is said to be out as attorney general after their meetings with Boris Johnson in the Commons.
“What the Prime Minister giveth, the Prime Minister taketh away,” said Villiers in her farewell message on Facebook.
Geoffrey Cox confirms he’s ‘leaving at PM’s request
“I have been truly privileged to have served as Attorney General during the recent turbulent political times,” Cox said on Twitter. “I am now leaving the Government at the PM’s request.”
Thornberry clashes with Long-Bailey again on BBC debate
Labour leadership hopeful Emily Thornberry has been asked about an accusation she made during last night’s Newsnight debate – claiming rival Rebecca Long-Bailey didn’t speak out on antisemitism in the shadow cabinet.
“I said I didn’t remember Rebecca speaking out – she was on the national executive committed responsible for ensuring that the party does the right things in relation to antisemitism … I don’t remember her speaking out.”
Long-Bailey didn’t look too impressed. “I don’t know if Emily was there or not – but I remember talking to our shadow cabinet on the processes within the NEC and how they weren’t fit for purpose.”
Asked if she remembered that, Thornberry shook her head and said: “No, I don’t remember. Not saying it didn’t happen – but I don’t remember.”
Emily Thornberry speaking on Victoria Derbyshire (BBC)
Fun Boy Three played in protest outside Downing Street
A person outside the gates of Downing Street is using a large speaker to blast music towards No 10.
Tracks played so far include Fun Boy Three’s The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum) and Part Of The Union by Strawbs.
Boris Johnson is back inside – awaiting the first arrivals set to be told of cabinet appointments.
Boris Johnson back at No 10 (Getty)
‘On my bike’: Junior transport ministers sacked
Nusrat Ghani has been sacked as a junior minister at the Department of Transport, tweeting: “Huge privilege to have been Transport Minister and we’ve achieved so much in 2 years. Thanks to the great team in the Dept and now I get to spend more time with family and constituents.”
George Freeman has also lost his job as transport minister. He tweeted: “On my bike. It’s been a huge privilege to shape the new Future Of Transport Strategy … Sad not to be part of it.”
Julian Smith praised by Irish politicians after sacking as NI secretary
Ireland’s foreign minister Simon Coveney, who co-chaired the recent negotiations to restore power-sharing arrangements at Stormont, replied to Smith on Twitter to tell him that he had been “such an effective Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at a time of real challenge and risk.”
He added: “Without your leadership I don't believe Northern Ireland would have a government today. Thank you Julian Smith for your trust, friendship and courage.”
Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) said on Twitter that while she may not have always agreed with Smith, “his dedication to the role was incredible”.
‘I would go for a pint with any of these people’: Labour candidates asked about Labour and friendship
There was an initially awkward then fairly touching moment at the end of the Labour leadership debate when the candidates were asked who they last said “I love you” to.
Keir Starmer said he had told his wife “who lost her mum on Saturday”.
After host Victoria Derbyshire, she was sorry and offered her condolences, he said: “This is why these questions don’t really work very well.”
“That’s really fair,” said Derbyshire.
Asked if they were friends, Lisa Nandy said: “I would say absolutely yes. I would go for a pint with any of these people. In fact, right now probably.”
Starmer said: “When we started this competition, Lisa phone me up and said we’ve got to look after each other on the road because it can be really brutal in this competition.”
Labour leadership candidates on Victoria Derbyshire (BBC)
‘Dissent will not be tolerated’
More fall-out from the cabinet sackings. According to Sky News’s Tamara Cohen, Smith believes his dismissal was down to his negativity over the prospect of a no-deal Brexit last year. He was apparently put on “resignation watch” after saying no deal would be “very, very bad” for Northern Ireland.
The Telegraph’s Gordon Rayner says the firings show “dissent will not be tolerated by No 10” and The Sun’s Tom Newton-Dunn said it was “the cull of the tall poppies”.
Brandon Lewis rumoured to be in line for NI role
Could the MP for Great Yarmouth being heading to Belfast?
Brandon Lewis, former Tory party chairman and currently the security minister, has been tipped to replace Julian Smith as Northern Ireland following this morning’s most controversial and unexpected sacking.
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