13.02.20
Sajid Javid resigns as Chancellor amid cabinet reshuffle
It was announced today (Feb 13) that Sajid Javid resigned as Chancellor of the Exchequer, and is to be replaced by his deputy, Rishi Sunak.
Javid had spent only 204 days in the role of Chancellor since taking over from Philip Hammond in July 2019.
It was going to be a moderate shake-up of Johnson’s government, but the resignation has been a dramatic turn of events – a decision believed to be a reaction to being asked to sack all of his special advisors.
With one month to go before he was due to deliver his first budget, expected to support the ‘levelling up’ of towns and cities across the country, Javid has now passed the responsibility onto his successor Sunak.
Just seven months ago, 39-year old Sunak was a Junior Housing Minister, making this new appointment a big step up.
It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson reshuffles his cabinet. Other moves include the appointment of Paymaster General Oliver Downden as the new Culture Secretary, replacing Baroness Morgan.
Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith, Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom, Housing Minister Esther McVey and Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers have also lost their roles within Johnson’s cabinet.
Priti Patel remains as Home Secretary and Dominic Raab remains as Foreign Secretary.
The reshuffle comes on the same week as the announcement of a green light by government for the controversial HS2 project, a decision that has been uncertain for months.
Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire/PA Images