This is a list of resignations from the second government formed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Between forming a government on 13 December 2019 after the 2019 general election and his eventual resignation amid a government crisis, Johnson faced the resignation of 10 cabinet ministers (one of whom resigned on two separate occasions) and 3 ministers 'attending cabinet'. This list omits ministers who were invited to leave the government during the 2020, 2021, or 2022 cabinet reshuffles. It also excludes all ministers who resigned during the previous government formed by Johnson.
2020 MinisterOfficeDate of resignationReasonRt Hon Sajid Javid MPChancellor of the Exchequer13 FebruaryRefused to dismiss his advisers during the 2020 cabinet reshuffle.Rt Hon Jake Berry MPMinister of State for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth13 FebruaryRefused to accept a new position during the 2020 cabinet reshuffle.Rt Hon Conor Burns MPMinister of State for Trade Policy4 MayStandards Committee found that he had used his position to intimidate a member of the public.Douglas Ross MPParliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland26 MayDiscontented with Dominic Cummings' explanation for breaching the government's restrictions on travel during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MPSecretary of State for International Development2 SeptemberDepartment abolished.Simon Clarke MPMinister of State for Regional Growth and Local Government8 SeptemberPersonal reasons.The Lord Keen of Elie QC PCAdvocate General for Scotland16 SeptemberConcerns arising from the Internal Market Bill.Chris Green MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Education13 OctoberOpposed the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Caroline Ansell MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs22 OctoberDefied government whip on free school meals.Rt Hon The Baroness Sugg CBEParliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Overseas Territories and Sustainable Development25 NovemberOpposed the announcement of cuts to the overseas aid budget.
2021 MinisterOfficeDate of resignationReasonKelly Tolhurst MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Rough Sleeping16 JanuaryPersonal reasons.Johnny Mercer MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence People and Veterans20 AprilExpressed frustration that the Overseas Operations Bill did not include legal protections for British soldiers that served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. It has been reported that Mercer was sacked by Johnson.Rt Hon Matt Hancock MPSecretary of State for Health and Social Care26 JuneBreaching social distancing guidelines after he was revealed to be having an affair with his aide and departmental Non-Executive Director Gina Coladangelo.Rt Hon James Brokenshire MPMinister of State for Security7 JulyHealth reasons; surgery on a lung tumor.Rt Hon The Lord Frost CMG PCMinister of State for the Cabinet Office18 DecemberOpposition to "COVID Plan B" and the political direction of the government.
2022 MinisterOfficeDate of resignationReasonRt Hon The Lord Agnew of Oulton DLMinister of State for Efficiency and Transformation24 JanuaryUnable to defend the government's track record on tackling fraud in Covid business schemes.Angela Richardson MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities31 JanuaryCriticised Boris Johnson for his mishandling of the partygate affair.Rt Hon The Lord Wolfson of Tredegar QCParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice13 AprilAccused Boris Johnson of undermining the rule of law, following his decision not to resign in response to criminal sanctions imposed on him by the Metropolitan Police.Paul Holmes MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Home Office27 MayConcerns around "toxic culture" at the heart of government following the publication of the Sue Gray report.John Lamont MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office6 JuneResigned in order to vote against Boris Johnson in a vote of confidence as leader of the Conservative Party.Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MPChairman of the Conservative PartyMinister without Portfolio24 JuneResigned over poor results at the Tiverton and Honiton and Wakefield by-elections.Rt Hon Chris Pincher MPGovernment Deputy Chief WhipTreasurer of the Household30 JuneReports that he drunkenly groped two men at the Carlton Club on 29 June.Rt Hon Sajid Javid MPSecretary of State for Health and Social Care5 July An historic mass resignation (the largest number of ministerial resignations in a 24-hour period, more than tripling the previous record of 11 resignations, set in 1932 during the 2nd National Government), following a statement by the Prime Minister, in which he confirmed that he had been aware of sexual misconduct allegations against Chris Pincher before appointing him to the government. This contributed to the resignation of Johnson as leader of the Conservative Party and later Prime Minister, with him replaced by Liz Truss as party leader on 5 September and as prime minister the following day.Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MPChancellor of the ExchequerSaqib Bhatti MBE MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Health and Social CareJonathan Gullis MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Northern Ireland OfficeNicola Richards MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for TransportVirginia Crosbie MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Office of the Secretary of State for WalesAlex Chalk QC MPSolicitor General for England and WalesWill Quince MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families6 JulyLaura Trott MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for TransportRobin Walker MPMinister of State for School StandardsJohn Glen MPEconomic Secretary to the TreasuryFelicity Buchan MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial StrategyVictoria Atkins MPMinister of State for Prisons and ProbationJo Churchill MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Agri-Innovation and Climate AdaptionStuart Andrew MPMinister of State for HousingSelaine Saxby MPParliamentary Private Secretary to HM TreasuryDavid Johnston MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for EducationClaire Coutinho MPParliamentary Private Secretary to HM TreasuryLee Rowley MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and IndustryKemi Badenoch MPMinister of State for Local Government, Faith and CommunitiesMinister of State for EqualitiesNeil O'Brien MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, The Union and ConstitutionAlex Burghart MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Apprenticeships and SkillsJulia Lopez MPMinister of State for Media, Data, and Digital InfrastructureMims Davies MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for EmploymentDuncan Baker MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and CommunitiesCraig Williams MPParliamentary Private Secretary to HM TreasuryMark Logan MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Northern Ireland OfficeRachel Maclean MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for SafeguardingMike Freer MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for ExportsMark Fletcher MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial StrategySara Britcliffe MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for EducationRuth Edwards MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Office of the Secretary of State for ScotlandPeter Gibson MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for International TradeJames Sunderland MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsJacob Young MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and CommunitiesRt Hon Michael Gove MPSecretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and CommunitiesJames Daly MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Work and PensionsDanny Kruger MBE MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and CommunitiesRt Hon Simon Hart MPSecretary of State for WalesEdward Argar MPMinister of State for HealthGareth Davies MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Department of Health and Social CareJames Davies MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Department of Health and Social CareRt Hon Brandon Lewis CBE MPSecretary of State for Northern Ireland7 JulyHelen Whately MPExchequer Secretary to the TreasuryRt Hon Damian Hinds MPMinister of State for Security and BordersGeorge Freeman MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science, Research and InnovationGuy Opperman MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions and Financial InclusionChris Philp MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Tech and the Digital EconomyJames Cartlidge MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for JusticeRt Hon Michelle Donelan MPSecretary of State for EducationRob Butler MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeRebecca Pow MPParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Nature Recovery and the Domestic EnvironmentJack Brereton MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for International TradeFay Jones MPParliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the House of CommonsRt Hon The Lord GrimstoneMinister of State for InvestmentQuit because Johnson had decided to leave Number 10 rather than fighting to remain in his postRt Hon The Lord GreenhalghMinister of State for Building Safety and Fire8 JulyStated "now that the die has been cast I have decided that this is the right time for me to resign" Rt Hon The Lord HarringtonMinister of State for Refugees4 SeptemberResigned from government prior to the announcement of the result of the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership electionRt Hon Nigel Adams MPMinister of State without Portfolio5 September Announced that they did not intend to serve in the incoming government
See also List of departures from the second May ministry
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