Will Quince MP, the Minister for Children and Families, quit his role on Wednesday morning. This is the latest in a slew of resignations from Boris Johnson’s Conservative government amid the Chris Pincher MP scandal that has rocked Westminster.
Quince’s responsibilities as Minister for Children and Families included:
- Children in care, children in need, child protection, adoption and care leavers
- Disadvantage and vulnerable children
- Children and young people’s mental health, online safety and preventing bullying in schools
- Policy to protect against serious violence
- Families
- Early years
On Monday, Quince appeared on television to defend Boris Johnson using Number 10 briefings which have since been “found to be inaccurate”, therefore saying that he had “no choice” but to resign. Speaking on his resignation, Quince said:
“Reaching this decision has not been easy. Stepping away from a job I love, where we are working every day to improve the life chances of vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people up and down our country, pains me greatly.
I will miss it hugely but pledge to do all I can to continue this important work from the backbenches.”
With great sadness and regret, 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.
I wish my successor well – it is the best job in government. pic.twitter.com/65EOmHd47p
— Will Quince MP ?? (@willquince) July 6, 2022
Previous holders of the office include Vicky Ford MP, Kemi Badenoch MP, and Nadhim Zahawi MP.
What has caused the scandal surrounding Chris Pincher?
Pincher was accused of groping two men at an event in London on 29th June and has since resigned. However, in the aftermath of this, a string of other allegations have emerged, with the Independent reporting a degree of “notoriety” among Conservative colleagues.
In 2017, Pincher quit the whips’ office after sexual assault allegations from Alex Story. Despite this, Boris Johnson brought him back into the government in 2019, making him housing minister, before making him deputy chief earlier this year. The Sunday Times report that during this period, a male Conservative reported further unwanted passes, and other Conservatives also raised concerns.
Johnson knew of this at the time, but failed to act on the allegations.
On 1st July 2022, Johnson’s government claimed that the Prime Minister was not in fact aware of the misconduct. On Monday, this stance changed: the PM now knew of the charges, but they were “either resolved or did not progress to a formal complaint”.
This has since changed again, with the PM saying he did not immediately recall being briefed about the misconduct in 2019.
On Tuesday, the PM’s bluff was called by Simon McDonald, the most senior civil servant in the Foreign Office 2015-2020, who said the PM was indeed briefed about Pincher’s allegations. Writing in a letter to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, McDonald said:
“Mr Johnson was briefed in person about the initiation and outcome of the investigation. There was a ‘formal complaint.’ Allegations were ‘resolved’ only in the sense that the investigation was completed; Mr Pincher was not exonerated. To characterise the allegations as ‘unsubstantiated’ is therefore wrong.”
Johnson then apologised for the whole scandal on Tuesday, saying:
“I apologise to everybody who has been badly affected by it. I want to make it absolutely clear that there’s no place in this government for anybody who is predatory or who abuses their position of power.”
Who has quit the government following the scandal?
Sajid Javid, the Minister for Health & Social Care, wasted no time following Johnson’s apology. He resigned over the scandal, claiming that he “can no longer continue in good conscience”:
I have spoken to the Prime Minister to tender my resignation as Secretary of State for Health & Social Care.
It has been an enormous privilege to serve in this role, but I regret that I can no longer continue in good conscience. pic.twitter.com/d5RBFGPqXp
— Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) July 5, 2022
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak followed minutes later:
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.
My letter to the Prime Minister below. pic.twitter.com/vZ1APB1ik1
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) July 5, 2022
Several other junior ministers and aides have also resigned, including Treasury Minister John Glen. Key appointments thus far include Nadhim Zahawi as Chancellor and Steve Barclay as Health Secretary.
