Steve Barclay looks set to replace Sajid Javid as Health Secretary. The PA news agency reports Boris Johnson's current Chief of Staff is due to take the role after a number of key ministers quit this evening.
Mr Javid announced his resignation as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care just moments before Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced he too was leaving government. The resignations have been followed by a number of junior government members also quitting.
Mr Johnson's leadership remains mired in scandal over the appointment of Tory MP Chris Pincher to the role of deputy chief whip. Mr Pincher quit as deputy chief whip last week following claims that he groped two men at a private members’ club, but Mr Johnson was told about allegations against him as far back as 2019.
The Prime Minister acknowledged he should have sacked Mr Pincher when he was told about the claims against him when he was a Foreign Office minister in 2019. But instead Mr Johnson went on to appoint him to other government roles.
He has however acted swiftly to replace Mr Javid. Whitehall sources told PA Mr Barclay, who has been Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office since September will take over the role.
Mr Barclay was first elected MP for North East Cambridgeshire in 2010. He has served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Brexit Secretary on previous occasions.
Mr Johnson has not yet announced who will replace Mr Sunak. He did however respond to him quitting, saying he was “sorry” to have received Mr Sunak’s resignation letter and praising his “outstanding service”.
In a letter, the Prime Minister wrote: “Dear Rishi, I was sorry to receive your letter resigning from the Government. You have provided outstanding service to the country through the most challenging period for our economy in peacetime history”.
He noted the furlough scheme, Mr Sunak’s work on post-pandemic economic recovery and to repair public finances, as well as tax cuts. “I have enormously valued your advice and deep commitment to public service and will miss working with you in government,” he concluded.
