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6 July 2022

Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch joins resignations from Boris Johnson’s government over Chris Pincher scandal

Housing minister Stuart Andrew, the highest-ranking LGBTQ+ Tory, has also left John's government.

By Emily Maskell

Words: Emily Maskell; pictures: Wiki Commons

Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative MP for Saffron Walden, has resigned from her post as a minister for equalities and local government as part of a growing number of MPs departing Boris Johnson’s government.

Announcing her departure on Wednesday (6 July) Badenoch tweeted: “With great regret, I resigned from the government this morning.

“It has been an honour being equalities and local government minister. It was a privilege to have worked with so many great ministerial colleagues and civil servants in these roles.”

Badenoch’s departure comes after a controversial stint at the Government Equalities Office from which she was called on to resign for her views on trans rights.

As well as defending a university professor accused of transphobia, Badenoch has also been reported to have misgendered trans people and questioned gay marriage in leaked recordings. 

On Wednesday, Badenoch signed a collective letter with a group of ministers to inform Johnson of her resignation. 

The letter reads that while it’s been an “honour” to serve the administration “it has become increasingly clear that the government cannot function given the issues that have come to light and the way in which they have been handled.”

“In good faith, we must ask that, for the good of the party and the country, you step aside,” the letter concludes, calling for Johnson to step down.

As well as Badenoch, housing minister Stuart Andrew, the highest-ranking LGBTQ+ Tory, has also announced he will step away from his governmental role.

The gay Conservative MP for Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough tweeted out his resignation letter addressed to Johnson.

“It is with sadness that I am resigning as Housing Minister,” Andrew’s tweet states, “I pay tribute to all my ministerial colleagues, officials, and civil servants in the Department and the wider sector.”

In the letter, the Conservative MP outlines that “loyalty and unity are traits that I have always endeavoured to provide for our great party. However, I fear I have let these override my judgment recently.”

He continues, “There comes a time when you have to look at your own personal integrity and that time is now. Therefore, given recent events, I have no other choice than to resign.”

Andrew also says, “Having a marginal seat I have seen the huge sacrifice our members make in volunteering considerable hours to campaign on our behalf and I cannot, in all good conscience, tolerate them having to defend the indefensible.”

Badenoch and Andrew join a growing list of government officials resigning, mounting pressure on the PM to resign.

As of Wednesday (6 July) afternoon, more than 27 resignations have been submitted to the government since Tuesday (5 July) from ministers and aides.

It all stems from the revelations that Johnson appointed the Tamworth MP, Chris Pincher, to the role of deputy chief whip for the Tories knowing of an investigation into Pincher concerning allegations of sexual misconduct. 

Number 10 initially said Mr. Johnson had been unaware of this before admitting that wasn’t the case after multiple colleagues had argued on behalf of the Prime Minister that he hadn’t known of the allegations against Pincher. 

The Attitude July/August issue is out now.

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