NADHIM Zahawi has just taken a promotion from Boris Johnson and spent the morning defending him on the Government’s media rounds – but is reportedly about to tell the Prime Minister to resign anyway.
The new Chancellor is among a group of Tory ministers set to ambush their party leader after the Liaison Committee with their demands for him to go.
More than 30 ministers and ministerial aides have quit the Government, most in protest over Johnson’s handling of allegations against former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has also told Johnson to leave, but has not stepped down from his own Cabinet position.
The mass exodus started on Tuesday night when Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid announced their shock departures – and ever since, there has been a steady flood of people quitting.
While Zahawi spent the morning defending Johnson, arguing he had apologised for keeping Pincher in government despite being told about allegations in 2019, by the afternoon he had teamed up with the small group of ministers aiming to oust Johnson.
The other ministers in the group were said to be Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis and Welsh Secretary Simon Hart, all of whom were waiting for the Prime Minister at Downing Street.
Education Secretary Michelle Donelan, who was also just appointed on Tuesday night to replace Zahawi, is said to be among the delegation too.
After taking on the role of Chancellor, Zahawi walked out of Number 10 holding a brown envelope, and remained silent and appeared expressionless.
It had been reported that he threatened to resign if Johnson did not give him the top job.
However, he denied this - telling Sky News: “No, I didn’t threaten to resign at all.”
Put to him that Liz Truss was reportedly in line for Chancellor, but Zahawi said he would step down if he did not get the job, he said: “That is not true.”
