Full list of Tory MPs who have quit Boris Johnson's govt
6 July 2022, 16:04 | Updated: 7 July 2022, 10:23
Boris Johnson is clinging onto his premiership after a wave of resignations, including from the health secretary, the chancellor and a string of ministers.
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Here is a full list of those who resigned:
Cabinet
- Chancellor Rishi Sunak
Quit last night writing: “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.”
- Health Secretary Sajid Javid
Left the government last night within minutes of the Chancellor, writing: “I regret that I can no longer continue in good conscience.”
- Welsh Secretary Simon Hart
Simon Hart, the MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, quit on Wednesday night.
In his resignation letter he said he had "no other option but to step down". He said he was not "a massive fan of Ministerial resignations being the best means of forcing change", but said he felt the party had "passed the point" where the 'ship could be turned around'.
- Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis
He resigned from the Cabinet, telling the Prime Minister that Government requires "honesty, integrity and mutual respect".
- Education Secretary Michelle Donelan
The newly appointed education secretary - who replaced Nadhim Zahawi when he was made Chancellor on Tuesday - quit after just 36 hours in the role.
She told Mr Johnson: "You have put us in an impossible situation. I am deeply saddened that it has come to this, but as someone who values integrity above all else, I have no choice."
Ministers
- Treasury minister Helen Whately
She followed suit saying 'there are only so many times you can apologise and move on'
- Security minister Damian Hinds
"It shouldn’t take the resignation of dozens of colleagues, but for our country, and trust in our democracy, we must have a change of leadership."
- Science minister George Freeman
He posted on Twitter: "Enough is enough. This can’t go on."
- Pensions minister Guy Opperman
He quit this morning saying: "It has been a honour, and a great responsibility, to serve as a minister, but we need leadership change, and I have resigned."
- Tech minister Chris Philp
He also left his post this morning, writing: "The PM should step down given public and Parliamentary confidence has clearly gone, and given the importance of integrity in public life. I’m therefore stepping down as Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy now"
- Courts minister James Cartlidge
"I have felt duty bound to remain in post because of the very challenging situation in the Crown Court. But it’s clearly impossible to continue."
- Will Quince, education minister
Resigned this morning after being sent out on TV to defend the PM days ago, saying Downing Street briefings "have now been found to be inaccurate".
- Alex Chalk, solicitor general
The most high-profile of the resignations from outside of the Cabinet, Mr Chalk said that he could not "defend the indefensible".
- Robin Walker, schools minister
Minister for Schools Robin Walker said: "Unfortunately, recent events have made it clear to me that our great party, for which I have campaigned all of my adult life, has become distracted from its core missions by a relentless focus on questions of leadership."
- Stuart Andrew, housing minister
The MP for Pudsey said he has "no other choice than to resign".
"Loyalty and unity are traits that I have always endeavoured to provide for our great party. However, I fear I have let these override my judgement recently. There comes a time when you have to look at your own personal integrity and that time is now."
- Jo Churchill, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs minister
The junior minister said "the country and party deserves better", and a "clear, self-less vision is needed".
- Victoria Atkins, Home Office minister
The MP for Louth and Horncastle wrote: "The casual mistreatment of Minister Will Quince and the revelations contained in Lord McDonald's letter highlight just how far your government has fallen from these ideals. I can no longer pirouette around our fractured values. We can and must be better than this."
- John Glen, City minister and economic secretary to the Treasury
The Tory MP for Salisbury said Boris Johnson's "poor judgement" made it "impossible for me to square continued service with my conscience" in his resignation letter.
- Ed Argar, minister for health and social care
- Rebecca Pow, environment minister
- Kemi Badenoch, minister for levelling up and equalities
- Neil O'Brien, minister for levelling up, housing and communities
- Lee Rowley, minister for industry
- Alex Burghart, minister for skills
- Julia Lopez, minister for media, data and digital infrastructure
- Mims Davies, employment minister
- Rachel Maclean, safeguarding minister
The Mid Sussex MP resigned saying the Conservative Party needed a "fresh start".
- Mike Freer, minister for exports and equalities
Parliamentary private secretaries
- Helen Whatley, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury
In her resignation letter she told the Prime Minister "there are only so many times you can apologise and move on".
- Gareth Davies, Department of Health and Social Care
- Danny Kruger, Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities
The MP for Devizes resigned over Boris Johnson sacking Michael Gove, the Levelling Up Secretary.
- Jonathan Gullis, Northern Ireland Office
In a statement, Mr Gullis tendered his resignation "with a heavy heart", adding that his party has been "more focused on dealing with our reputational damage rather than delivering for the people of this country".
- Saqib Bhatti, Department of Health and Social Care
Mr Bhatti quit his role with a statement that "recent events have undermined trust and standards in public life".
- Nicola Richards, Department of Transport
Ms Richards said in a statement that she could not serve "under the current circumstances".
- Virginia Crosbie, Welsh Office
Ms Crosbie said in a Facebook post that if Mr Johnson is left in office, he will "irrevocably" harm the Government and the Conservative Party.
- Laura Trott, Department of Transport
She said in a Facebook post: "Trust in politics is - and must always be - of the upmost importance, but sadly in recent months this has been lost.
- Selaine Saxby, HM Treasury
In her resignation letter, she said: "Inaction is indeed action, and my silence is not compatible with my views or position."
- James Daly, Department of Work and Pensions
- James Davies, Department of Health and Social Care
- Claire Coutinho, HM Treasury
- David Johnston, Department of Education
- Felicity Buchan, Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
- Craig Williams, HM Treasury
- Mark Logan, Northern Ireland Office
- Duncan Baker, Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
- Mark Fletcher, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Mr Fletcher accused Boris Johnson of being “an apologist for someone who committed sexual assault”.
- Ruth Edwards, Scotland Office
- Sara Britcliffe, Department for Education
- Peter Gibson, Department for International Trade
- James Sunderland, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Jacob Young, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
- Rob Butler, Foreign Office
Others
- Bim Afolami, vice-chairman of the Conservative Party for youth
Speaking to Talk TV, Mr Afolami announced that he too would have to step down, adding: "I just don't think the Prime Minister any longer has, not just my support, but he doesn't have, I don't think, the support of the party, or indeed the country any more."
- Caroline Johnson, Conservative Party vice chair
- Luke Hall, Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party
- Andrew Murrison, trade envoy to Morocco
In a letter calling for Mr Johnson to resign, Mr Murrison quit his job, saying that the PM's position had become "unrecoverable".
- Theodora Clarke, trade envoy to Kenya
The Stafford MP resigned from her position as trade envoy to Kenya with a statement which said she takes "allegations of sexual misconduct very seriously" and that the Prime Minister had shown a "severe lack of judgment and care" for his parliamentary party.
- David Mundell, Trade Envoy to New Zealand
The MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale said he was "disappointed" Mr Johnson had not stood down voluntarily and also said he had submitted a letter of no confidence.
- David Diguid, Fisheries Envoy and Trade Envoy for Angola and Zambia
- Richard Graham, Trade Envoy to Malaysia and the Philippines
