Javid forced out in Cabinet shock
SAJID JAVID has dramatically quit as chancellor after Boris Johnson ordered him to fire his closest aides.
The Prime Minister had been expected to keep Mr Javid in post as part of his reshuffle, and news of his resignation less than a month before the first post-Brexit Budget shocked Westminster.
Rishi Sunak, Mr Javid’s former deputy at the Treasury, has now been appointed to the role of chancellor.
Allies of the former chancellor said Mr Javid refused to sack his team of special advisers, something that Mr Johnson made clear he would have to do if he wanted to remain in 11 Downing Street.
Mr Sunak will take the job, having reportedly agreed to a joint Number 10-Number 11 team of advisers.
The bombshell came after long-standing rumours of tensions between the ex-chancellor and Mr Johnson’s closest aide Dominic Cummings.
In August, he had fired Mr Javid’s aide Sonia Khan and it appears Number 10 wanted to go further in keeping a closer eye on the chancellor.
Mr Javid said that “no self-respecting minister” could accept the conditions being imposed.
“He has turned down the job of Chancellor of the Exchequer,” a source close to Mr Javid said.
“The Prime Minister said he had to fire all his special advisers and replace them with Number 10 special advisers to make it one team. The chancellor said no self-respecting minister would accept those terms.”
Mr Javid had walked smiling into Number 10 in a sign that he expected to remain in place ahead of the March 11 Budget.
His departure came after Julian Smith was unceremoniously dumped as Northern Ireland secretary, Andrea Leadsom was sacked as business secretary, Theresa Villiers lost her job as environment secretary, Geoffrey Cox was sacked as attorney general and Esther McVey lost her job as housing minister.
Home Secretary Priti Patel, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, International Trade Secretary Liz Truss and Health Secretary Matt Hancock were all confirmed in their existing roles. Downing Street has previously confirmed that Grant Shapps will stay on as Transport Secretary.
Alok Sharma was promoted from international development to become the new Business Secretary and he will also be minister for the Cop26 UN climate summit.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan joins the Cabinet as International Development Secretary, having previously been a defence minister.
Oliver Dowden has become a full Cabinet member as Culture Secretary, having previously attended the meetings as paymaster general.