LONDON, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sajid Javid has resigned as chancellor as Boris Johnson carries out a post-Brexit cabinet reshuffle.
Javid rejected an order to fire his team of aides, saying “no self-respecting minister” could accept such a condition.
He has been replaced as chancellor by Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rishi Sunak – who just seven months ago was a junior housing minister.
Javid had been due to deliver his first Budget in four weeks’ time.
The former home secretary was appointed chancellor by Johnson when he became prime minister in July, making him the shortest.
His resignation follows rumors of tensions between Javid and the prime minister’s senior adviser Dominic Cummings.
“He has turned down the job of chancellor of the exchequer,” a source close to Javid, who had been expected to remain in place, said.
“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.”
Sunak, 39, was educated at Winchester College and Oxford University, after which he went on to found an investment firm.
In 2015, he was elected MP for Richmond, North Yorkshire, replacing former Conservative leader William Hague.
Sunak became a housing minister in 2018, before being promoted to chief secretary to the Treasury last July.
Arriving at the Treasury, Sunak said he was “delighted to be appointed” chancellor and had “a lot to get on with”.
