Rishi Sunak resignation from the British Government has stunned many, and left several questions to ponder over. As pressure mounted on Prime Minister Boris Johnson for selecting a disgraced member of the Parliament for a crucial cabinet role, the British chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak and the health secretary Sajid Javid resigned from the government on Tuesday.
In his resignation letter Rishi Sunak wrote “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.”
The two senior cabinet members resigned just as Johnson was admitting in a public speech that it was a “mistake” to name Chris Pincher the deputy chief whip in February, two years after learning of a complaint of misconduct against the Conservative MP.
Downing Street initially asserted that the prime minister was unaware of the allegations of sexual misconduct against Pincher, but that denial was overturned when a former senior official claimed that Johnson, then serving as foreign minister, was informed in 2019 about a different incident involving his colleague.
“I think it was a mistake and I apologize for it,” Johnson said of Pincher’s promotion. “In hindsight it was the wrong thing to do. I want to make absolutely clear that there’s no place in this government for anybody who is predatory or who abuses their position of power.”
Highlight of Rishi Sunak Resignation Letter
Rishi Sunak posted his resignation letter on social media minutes after Johnson’s apology during the televised address, saying “this may be my last ministerial job, but I believe these standards are worth fighting for and that is why I am resigning.”
“To leave ministerial office is a serious matter at any time. For me to step down as Chancellor while the worl 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,” the letter of Rishi Sunak read.
“However, the public rightly expect the 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,” he added.
He went on to express his admiration to the leader 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.
