Why did Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid resign? Resignation letters of chancellor and health secretary explained

The future of Boris Johnson's government has been further questioned in light of Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak's resignations on Tuesday (5 July).

After the Prime Minister expressed regret for granting former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher a senior position despite being aware of a prior complaint made against him, Sunak and Javid quickly announced their resignations.

But why did the two senior governmental figures quit their positions?

Here is everything you need to know about it.

Why did Rishi Sunak resign?

Sunak said “the public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously”, adding: “I believe these standards are worth fighting for and that is why I am resigning.”

The now-former chancellor claimed in his resignation letter, which was made public on Twitter, that he could no longer remain loyal to the Prime Minister, who is still embroiled in scandal over the choice of Pincher to serve as deputy chief whip.

Following claims that he groped two men at a private members' club, Pincher resigned as deputy chief whip last week. However, Johnson was informed of the allegations against him as early as 2019, while he was a minister in the Foreign Office.

The Prime Minister recognised he should have fired him, but instead, Johnson appointed Pincher to other government positions.

Since being named Chancellor in February 2020, Sunak and the Prime Minister haven't always agreed on everything.

As Chancellor, he was frequently seen as the Cabinet's most economically responsible member and a check on the Prime Minister's spending plans.

The Chancellor and the Prime Minister frequently seemed at odds over issues ranging from post-pandemic spending to green investment due to the Chancellor's hardline approach to public spending.

As he introduced the furlough programme during the pandemic, Sunak's popularity increased, igniting speculation that the Chancellor might be planning to supplant Johnson as the leader of the Conservative Party.

But in the last month, his political standing has suffered due to the cost-of-living crisis that has gripped households throughout the UK as a result of soaring inflation.

Rishi Sunak’s resignation letter in full:

Dear Prime Minister,

It is with deep sadness that I am writing to you to resign from the Government.

It has been an enormous privilege to serve our country as Chancellor of the Exchequer and I will always be proud of how during the pandemic we protected people’s jobs and businesses through actions such as furlough.

To leave ministerial office is a serious matter at any time. For me to step down as Chancellor while the world is suffering the economic consequences of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and other serious challenges is a decision that I have not taken lightly.

However, the public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously. I recognise this may be my last ministerial job, but I believe these standards are worth fighting for and that is why I am resigning.

I have been loyal to you. I backed you to become Leader of our Party and encouraged others to do so. I have served as your Chancellor with gratitude that you entrusted me with stewardship of the nation’s economy and finances.

Above all, I have respected the powerful mandate given to you by the British people in 2019 and how under your leadership we broke the Brexit deadlock.

That is why I have always tried to compromise in order to deliver the things you want to achieve. On those occasions where I disagreed with you privately, I have supported you publicly.

That is the nature of the collective government upon which our system relies and it is particularly important that the Prime Minister and Chancellor remain united in hard times such as those we are experiencing today.

Our country is facing immense challenges. We both want a low-tax, high-growth economy, and world class public services, but this can only be responsibly delivered if we are prepared to work hard, make sacrifices and take difficult decisions.

I firmly believe the public are ready to hear that truth. Our people know that if something is too good to be true then it’s not true. They need to know that whilst there is a path to a better future, it is not an easy one.

In preparation for our proposed joint speech on the economy next week, it has become clear to me that our approaches are fundamentally too different.

I am sad to be leaving Government but I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that we cannot continue like this.

Kind regards,

Rishi Sunak

Why did Sajid Javid resign?

Javid said British citizens "demand integrity from their government," and that the public now believes Johnson's team is inept and not "acting in the national interest."

The recent vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister, according to Javid, was a "time for humility, grip, and new direction."

“I regret to say, however, that it is clear to me that this situation will not change under your leadership – and you have therefore lost my confidence too,” he said.

As the NHS celebrated its 74th birthday, Javid resigned as health secretary.

Javid praised the NHS as the "biggest national institution" just five hours before leaving from the top health position in the nation.

“We all have a reason to be grateful to the health service so, from everyone across the country, happy 74th birthday to the NHS,” he said.

Hours later, after losing faith in the Prime Minister, he released his dramatic resignation letter.

Javid had his work cut out for him when he assumed the position in the midst of the pandemic, following the resignation of his predecessor Matt Hancock from the Cabinet for violating social distance rules by hugging and kissing an aide in his office.

On 26 June 2021, a few days before “freedom day”, when the last of the Covid-19 limitations were due to be released, he was appointed.

In addition to outlining goals for modernising the service, Javid emphasised that he was eager to assist the NHS in getting back to business as usual and clearing the backlog of care.

However, his preparations were derailed in the autumn when the Omicron wave hit the UK and attention shifted back to Covid-19.

Sajid Javid’s resignation letter in full:

Prime Minister,

It was a privilege to have been asked to come back into Government to serve as Secretary of State for Health & Social Care at such a critical time for our country.

I have given every ounce of energy to this task, and am incredibly proud of what we have achieved.

The UK has led the world in learning to live with Covid. Thanks to the amazing rollout of our booster programme, investment in treatments, and innovations in the way we deliver healthcare, the British people have enjoyed months more freedom than other comparable countries.

We have also made important strides in the recovery and reform of NHS and adult social care. The longest waiters are down by 70% and, as you know, I have been working hard on wider modernisation of the NHS.

I have also developed radical new approaches to dementia, cancer and mental health, and prepared the Health Disparities White Paper which will set out plans to level up health outcomes for communities that have been left behind for too long.

Given the unprecedented scale of the challenges in health and social care, it has been my instinct to continue focusing on this important work. So it is with enormous regret that I must tell you that I can no longer, in good conscience, continue serving in this Government.

I am instinctively a team player but the British people also rightly expect integrity from their Government. The tone you set as a leader, and the values you represent, reflect on your colleagues, your party and ultimately the country.

Conservatives at their best are seen as hard-headed decision-makers, guided by strong values. We may not have always been popular, but we have been competent in acting in the national interest.

Sadly, in the current circumstances, the public are concluding that we are now neither. The vote of confidence last month showed that a large number of our colleagues agree. It was a moment for humility, grip and new direction.

I regret to say, however, that it is clear to me that this situation will not change under your leadership – and you have therefore lost my confidence too.

It is three years since you entered Downing Street. You will forever be credited with seeing off the threat of Corbynism, and breaking the deadlock on Brexit.

You have shone a very welcome light on the regional disparities in our country, an agenda that will continue to define our politics.

These are commendable legacies in unprecedented times. But the country needs a strong and principled Conservative Party, and the Party is bigger than any one individual.

I served you loyally and as a friend, but we all serve the country first.

When made to choose between those loyalties there can only be one answer.

Finally, I would like to put on record my thanks to ministerial and departmental colleagues, my admiration for NHS and social care staff, and my love for my family who have been immensely patient in these challenging times.

Yours ever,

Sajid Javid