Johnson tightens grip on power after Javid quits

RESHUFFLE: Top ministers axed while former chancellor claims he had ‘no option but to resign’

added: “It’s been a huge honour to serve as chancellor of the exchequer, and whilst I was very pleased that the prime minister wanted to reappoint me, I was unable to accept the conditions that he had attached.

“I felt I was left with no option other than to resign.”

Before the explosive meeting with Mr Johnson, Mr Javid had walked smiling into Number 10 in a sign that he expected to remain in place ahead of the Budget.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said preparations for the Budget would continue under the new chancellor.

“Extensive preparations have already been carried out for the Budget and they will continue at pace,” the spokesman said.

Labour’s John Mcdonnell, the shadow chancellor, said Mr Javid’s resignation showed that Mr Johnson’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings had “clearly won the battle to take absolute control of the Treasury and install his stooge as chancellor”.

“This must be a historical record, with the government in crisis after just over two months in power,” he added.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford agreed, he said: “Rather than prioritising the interests of people across the country, Boris Johnson is embroiled in an ego battle between his de-facto deputy Dominic Cummings and his former Cabinet ministers.”

There have been bad relations between No 10 and No 11 since Mr Cummings fired Mr Javid’s press secretary in August without consulting him.

Since then, there have been rows between No 10 and Mr Javid’s team over the Conservatives’ economic policy at the election and the contents of the Budget.

Until Mr Javid’s exit, the most surprising move by the prime minister had been the sacking of Mr Smith just weeks after brokering the deal which restored the power-sharing administration in Stormont.

Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Mr Smith was “one of Britain’s finest politicians of our time”.

Speculation about Mr Smith’s position centred on the terms of the Stormont deal, amid Tory concerns it could pave the way for prosecutions of British soldiers.

But allies of the axed minister dismissed suggestions that No 10 had not been kept informed of the process and details of the deal.

Other senior ministers to face the chop were Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom, Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers and Attorney General Geoffrey Cox.

PA. Boris Johnson, above, appointed Rishi Sunak, top right, as chancellor after Sajid Javid, right, resigned amid the Cabinet reshuffle.

Julian Smith was sacked as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.