UK Government Reorganisation: Minister Sajid Javid Resigns

(Patria) – British Finance Minister Sajid Javid resigned on Thursday.

Javid made the move at the very beginning of the first significant government restructuring since the country left the EU.

It is stated that the former minister resigned even though Prime Minister Johnson offered him the position of Chancellor of the Exchequer, but with one (difficult) condition – that he replace all his special advisors, which Javid refused to do.

He will be replaced by Rishi Sunak (39), the youngest person in that position in Britain's history, with only four years of parliamentary experience.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Deputy Prime Minister Michael Gove, Home Secretary Priti Patel, and Justice Secretary Robert Buckland will retain their positions.

As we reported earlier, Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith was sacked, to the general surprise of most, given his successes in negotiations to re-establish the Northern Ireland government after years of political deadlock. Simon Coveney, Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, publicly commented on Smith's 'effectiveness' and told him that without his leadership, 'Northern Ireland would not have a government today'.

Smith's resignation is explained by his disagreement with Prime Minister Johnson on key issues such as Brexit, but Smith himself, after resigning, benevolently thanked Johnson for the opportunity to serve in government, and stated that 'serving the people of Northern Ireland has been the greatest privilege'.

There have been numerous reactions to Julian Smith's dismissal; one Member of Parliament from Northern Ireland tweeted: 'The dismissal of the most successful Secretary of State in the last decade only shows Johnson's dangerous indifference towards us'.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar called Smith 'one of the best British politicians'.

Attorney General Geoffrey Cox was also dismissed, who explained that he is returning to the 'backbenches' from where he will support the Prime Minister, writes Euronews.

Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom, Minister for Universities and Science Chris Skidmore, Transport Minister Nusrat Ghani, as well as Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers, who publicly complained that 'what the minister gives, he also takes away' because she was stripped of a position she had held for only 6 months, were also dismissed.

However, not all dismissals mean leaving the government; some ministers will stay on – just in a different role, write the British media.