Boris Johnson makes Steve Barclay health and social care secretary, after Sajid Javid resigns

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been accused of clinging on to power by his fingernails despite growing calls for him to step down - with the speedy promotion of Steve Barclay to the post of Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, following Sajid Javid’s resignation.

Mr Johnson has appointed his former chief of staff Steve Barclay to replace Mr Javid, who was the first person to quit from his government. Former education secretary Nadhim Zahawi has been promoted to the role of Chancellor to replace Rishi Sunak and Chippenham MP Michelle Donelan is the new education secretary.

Mr Johnson’s quick cabinet reshuffle follows last night’s resignation of former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid Javid, former Chancellor Rishi Sunak minutes later, and the resignation of Children and Families Minister Will Quince this morning. Over 30 people have left the government. Government ministers have been described as leaving their posts like rats leaving a sinking ship.

Their resignations came after Mr Johnson’s damning admission on 5 July that he had made a "bad mistake" in appointing Chris Pincher as deputy chief whip in February this year despite being aware of sexual misconduct allegations against the MP for Tamworth.

Steve Barclay honoured to be health secretary

Ex-banker Steve Barclay has been Mr Johnson’s chief of staff and chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster since February of this year and is delighted with his new government job. Mr Barclay has been an MP since 2010. Former Prime Minister Theresa May made him Brexit secretary in 2018.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “It is an honour to take up the position of Health and Social Care Secretary.

"Our NHS and social care staff have showed us time and again - throughout the pandemic and beyond - what it means to work with compassion and dedication to transform lives. This government is investing more than ever before in our NHS and care services to beat the Covid backlogs, recruit 50,000 more nurses, reform social care and ensure patients across the country can access the care they need.”

Sajid Javid PMQs: ‘Enough is enough’

Straight after PMQs on 6 July, Mr Javid stood up and told MPs: "I'm not one of life's quitters. Treading the tightrope between loyalty and integrity has become impossible in recent months.

"At some point we have to conclude enough is enough.

"A team is as good as its team captain".

Why did Sajid Javid resign?

In Mr Sunak’s resignation letter to the PM, he said the public expected government to be conducted "properly, competently and seriously".

Mr Javid's resignation letter said: “Given the unprecedented scale of the challenges in health and social care, it has been my instinct to continue focusing on this important work.

"So it is with enormous regret that I must tell you that I can no longer, in good conscience, continue serving in this Government, I am instinctively a team player but the British people also rightly expect integrity from their Government.

“The tone you set as leader, and the values you represent, reflect on your colleagues, your party, and ultimately the country. He added: "It is clear to me that this situation will not change under your leadership - and you have therefore lost my confidence too.”

Chris Pincher, Conservative MP for Tamworth, resigned on 30 June after allegations of sexual misconduct involving claims that he had groped men.

After Mr Pincher’s resignation, No.10 gave false assurances to government ministers about what the PM knew. As a result, ministers initially publicly denied Mr Johnson was aware of complaints against Mr Pincher before appointing him as deputy chief whip.

On Monday 4 July, Nadhim Zahawi was asked about what Mr Johnson knew about the misconduct allegations and Mr Zahawi, who had been incorrectly briefed by No.10, said: "On the specific allegations, the prime minister did not know."

Lord McDonald, an ex-civil servant accused No.10 of having told lies about what the PM knew and stated Mr Johnson was briefed "in person" about a formal complaint into Mr Pincher's conduct in 2019.

When quizzed by Labour's Keir Starmer, during PMQs on 6 July, Mr Johnson refused to tell the truth on whether or not he had previously referred to Mr Pincher as "handsy" and "Pincher by name Pincher by nature."

Conservatives are feeling the heat from the public’s reaction to Boris Johnson’s conduct and lies about Partygate and No.10 parties during lockdown as the public were barred from seeing family in care homes. MPs became further rattled by the loss of Conservative seats in recent by-elections and council posts in May’s local elections.

According to a YouGov poll, two thirds of British people (69 per cent) want Boris Johnson to resign. The majority of 2019 Conservative voters (54 per cent) also want to see Mr Johnson go - the first time this has been higher than the number who want him to stay (33 per cent).

Sajid Javid’s ‘personal mission’ for 10 year suicide plan

Only a few days ago, Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid talked about mental health and his personal mission to tackle suicides by publishing a 10-year suicide prevention plan.

Spurred by the suicide of his own brother, Mr Javid highlighted the importance of seeking help and new initiatives to reduce suicides including better services for bereaved families and better use of technology to understand the causes of suicide.

He spoke of rolling out a national suspected suicide surveillance system early next year which looks at suicide risk patterns.

In 2021, there were over 5,000 suicides registered in England. Suicide is the biggest cause of death in men under the age of 50.

Mr Javid recently said: “We must treat suicides with the same urgency that we treat any other major killer. I’m determined to make a difference on this issue. One of the ways we’ll do this is by publishing a new 10-year suicide prevention plan.”

Many question whether the government can function after the resignation of so many ministers and aides. Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen has said the prime minister should resign and if he does not do so "the party will have to force him out".

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said he is ready for a snap general election.