The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Two of Britain's most senior Cabinet ministers have quit, a move that could spell the end of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's leadership after months of scandals.
Treasury chief Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid resigned within minutes of each other. Javid said "I can no longer continue in good conscience."
Johnson has been hit by allegations he failed to come clean about a lawmaker who was appointed to a senior position despite claims of sexual misconduct.

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.My letter to the Prime Minister below. pic.twitter.com/vZ1APB1ik1— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) July 5, 2022


Sunak said "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."
In a highly critical resignation letter, Javid wrote: "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.

I have spoken to the Prime Minister to tender my resignation as Secretary of State for Health & Social Care. 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— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) July 5, 2022


"[The confidence vote] 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."
Parliamentary private secretary to the Northern Ireland secretary Jonathan Gullis has also resigned, saying for "too long we have been more focused on dealing with our reputational damage rather than delivering for the people of this country and spreading opportunity for all".
Fellow parliamentary private secretary Saqib Bhatti MP has also resigned, saying "recent events have undermined trust and standards in public life".
And Conservative MP for Hastings and Rye, Sally-Ann Hart, a previous supporter of Johnson, says she is "no longer able to support Boris Johnson as Leader of the Conservative party and Prime Minister".
The resignations come as former top British civil servant said Tuesday that Boris Johnson's office wasn't telling the truth about sexual misconduct allegations against a senior member of the prime minister's government.
Johnson has faced pressure to explain what he knew about previous misconduct allegations against lawmaker Chris Pincher, who resigned as deputy chief whip on Thursday amid complaints that he groped two men at a private club.

Chris Pincher resigned as deputy chief whip after a drunken incident, which turned out not to be an isolated case. Photo / AP
The government's explanation shifted repeatedly over the past five days. Ministers initially said Johnson was not aware of any allegations when he promoted Pincher to the post in February.
On Monday, a spokesman said Johnson knew of sexual misconduct allegations that were "either resolved or did not progress to a formal complaint."
That account did not sit well with Simon McDonald, the most senior civil servant at the UK Foreign Office from 2015 to 2020. In a highly unusual move, he said Tuesday that the prime minister's office still wasn't telling the truth.
McDonald said in a letter to the parliamentary commissioner for standards that he received complaints about Pincher's behavior in the summer of 2019, shortly after Pincher became a Foreign Office minister. An investigation upheld...

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