Sajid Javid has called for cabinet ministers to consider resigning from Boris Johnson's government to help oust him as prime minister, saying he quit as health secretary after deciding enough is enough over issues of truth and credibility.
Javid made a damning statement in the Commons on Wednesday after his resignation on Tuesday evening and said he believed other ministers should follow suit.
I have concluded that the problem starts at the top, and I believe that is not going to change. That means that it is for us who have a responsibility to make that change, Javid said.
He said that colleagues would have their own reasons for staying in office. But let's be clear: not doing anything is an active decision. I am deeply concerned about how the next generation will see the Conservative party on our current course. After 12 years in government, our reputation depends on regaining the trust of the public. Javid, watched by a grim-faced Johnson, said he had not wanted to leave his post and had given the prime minister the benefit of the doubt over several issues, not least after being assured that no parties took place in Downing Street during the lock-in.
In the last few months, the tightrope between loyalty and integrity has become impossible, and I will never lose my integrity, Javid told MPs.
I believe a team is as good as its team captain, and that a captain is as good as his or her team. It has become increasingly difficult to be a part of the team because of the events of recent months.
It is not fair for ministerial colleagues to go out every morning, defending lines that don't stand up and don't hold up. It is not fair to my parliamentary colleagues who have suffered the brunt of constituents dismay in their inboxes and doorsteps in recent elections. The parties had given reason to question the truth and integrity of what we have been told by the parties over issues such as being let down by being let down by the parties. We have to conclude that enough is enough. Javid said he did not believe that the No 10 operation could change despite the MP apologising for appointing Chris Pincher as deputy chief whip despite the fact that he previously apologised for sexual misconduct.
He said that he was worried that the reset button can only work so many times. There are only so many times when you can turn the machine off and on before you realize something is fundamentally wrong.