"no self-respecting minister would accept those terms."
Sajid Javid has quit as Chancellor as Prime Minister Boris Johnson carries out a post-Brexit cabinet reshuffle.
Mr Javid rejected an order to fire his team of aides, saying “no self-respecting minister” could accept such a condition.
He was set to deliver his first Budget in March 2020.
The former Home Secretary had run for leadership of the Conservative Party but ultimately lost out to Mr Johnson who became PM in July 2019.
Mr Javid was then named Chancellor.
However, his resignation follows rumours of tensions between Mr Javid and senior advisor Dominic Cummings.
In August 2019, Mr Cummings had sacked Mr Javid’s aide Sonia Khan. It was reported that 10 Downing Street wanted to go further in keeping a close eye on the Chancellor.
A source close to Mr Javid said: “He has turned down the job of chancellor of the Exchequer.
“The prime minister said he had to fire all his special advisers and replace them with Number 10 special advisers to make it one team.
“The chancellor said no self-respecting minister would accept those terms.”
The resignation happened on February 13, 2020, a day where Mr Johnson fired eight ministers as part of his cabinet reshuffle.
In other cabinet changes:
- Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith and Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom were fired.
- Housing Minister Esther McVey and Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers were also sacked.
- Attorney General Geoffrey Cox, who attended cabinet, was asked to resign by Mr Johnson.
- Michael Gove remains in his role as minister for the Cabinet Office.
Sajid Javid was one of the names who had been expected to remain in place.
Commenting on the surprise resignation, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor John Mcdonnell said:
“This must be a historical record with the government in crisis after just over two months in power.”
“Dominic Cummings has clearly won the battle to take absolute control of the Treasury and install his stooge as chancellor.”
Following the resignation, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rishi Sunak has been confirmed as Mr Javid’s replacement.
He has been the Chief Secretary to the Treasury since summer 2019, but he was not even a member of the cabinet, he had just been a minister with the right to attend.
Mr Sunak’s appointment as Chancellor is his first full cabinet job. He will join a new collaborative team of number 10 and number 11 special advisors.
The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP @RishiSunak has been appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer @HMTreasury pic.twitter.com/OTYOkujnbo
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) February 13, 2020
Mr Javid’s resignation has shaken the UK government as it faces the obstacles of negotiating a new relationship with the European Union by the end of 2020.
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