Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid resign from the government

Health secretary Sajid Javid and Chancellor Rishi Sunak have resigned from the government in a major blow to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Javid said it had been an "enormous privilege" to serve, but said he could not longer continue in his role in "good conscience".

Sunak said, "the public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously".

There had been rumours of a number of ministers considering their positions over Downing Street's handling of the situation surrounding former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher.

But no one expected resignations from two of the Cabinet's most senior figures.

In his resignation letter, Javid said: "We [Conservative party] may not have always been popular, but we have been competent in acting in the national interest. Sadly, in the current circumstances, the public are concluding that we are now neither.

"The vote of confidence last month showed that a large number of our colleagues agree.

"I regret to say, however, that it is clear to me that this situation will not change under your leadership and you have therefore lost my confidence too."

He added: "The country needs a strong and principled Conservative Party, and the party is bigger than any one individual. I served you loyally as a friend, but we all serve the country first. When made to choose between loyalties there can only be one answer."

Sunak tweeted: "The public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously.

"I recognise this may be my last ministerial job, but I believe these standards are worth fighting for and that is why I am resigning."

Pincher quit last week over newspaper allegations that he groped two men.

In a resignation letter, he told the PM he "drank far too much" and "embarrassed" himself.

Earlier, Johnson had apologised for appointing Pincher as deputy chief whip, despite being made aware of a misconduct complaint against him.

The prime minister said: "In hindsight it was the wrong thing to do and I apologise to everyone who has been badly affected by it.

"I just want to make absolutely clear that there's no place in this government for anybody who is predatory or abuses their position of power."