String of Essex MPs QUIT government as resignations continue
Colchester's Will Quince and Saffron Walden's Kemi Badenoch are among those to walk away from their jobs
Last updated 6th Jul 2022
Three Essex MPs have now quit their roles as Boris Johnson's government is hit by a string of resignations.
Colchester's MP Will Quince was one of the first to go this morning, resigning from his job as the Minister for Children and Families.
Saffron Walden's Kemi Badenoch has quit as Equalities Minister, while Brentwood & Ongar's Alex Burghart has stepped away from his role in the Department for Education.
It comes after two senior ministers walked out last night over the handling of the controversy surrounding the MP Chris Pincher.
Within minutes of each other, both Chancellor, Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, quit their roles last night.
In a statement posted online Will Quince said: "I have this morning tendered my resignation to the Prime Minister after I accepted and repeated assurances on Monday to the media which have now been found to be inaccurate. "
He was sent out to defend the Prime Minister just a few days ago, insisting Boris Johnson had no prior knowledge of Chris Pincher's behaviour.
Mr Quince said he had received a “sincere apology” from Mr Johnson for being sent out with an “inaccurate” briefing about the Prime Minister’s knowledge of events.
Elsewhere the Harlow MP Robert Halfon has also made clear he's lost confidence in the PM.
He wrote: "I feel the public have been mislead about the appointment of the former Deputy Chief Whip"
"The parties at Number 10 Downing Street were bad enough, but the appointment of this individual and the untruthful statement about what was known, is unacceptable to me".
Southend West's Anna Firth has submitted a letter of no confidence in the PM.
Braintree's James Cleverly is still publicly backing the government and has welcomed the appointment of new ministers.
Nadhim Zahawi was made the new Chancellor, moving from Education and Boris Johnson's former Chief of Staff, Steve Barclay, becomes the new Health Secretary.
Zahawi said his reason for taking the role was not to do with personal ambition, asked if he will run for leader when there is a vacancy, he told Sky News: "There is no vacancy."
"First of all, I will be working very hard to make sure that this team continues to deliver. The Prime Minister is focused on delivery, delivery, delivery."