England: Solicitor general and justice minister resign amid government crisis

Alex Chalk QC MP

In a letter to the prime minister last night, Alex Chalk QC MP, who has served as solicitor general for England and Wales since September 2021, said his role “cannot extend to defending the indefensible”.

He said the “cumulative effect” of a number of scandals meant that “public confidence in the ability of Number 10 to uphold the standards of candour expected of a British government has irretrievably broken down”.

“I regret that I share that judgement,” Mr Chalk wrote. “This comes at a time of intense challenge for our country, when trust in government can rarely have been more important. I’m afraid the time has therefore come for fresh leadership.”

Meanwhile, Victoria Atkins, who served as minister of state for prisons and probation since September 2021, tendered her resignation in a letter to the prime minister this morning.

She wrote: “Values such as integrity, decency, respect and professionalism should matter to us all. I have watched with growing concern as those values have fractured under your leadership.”

The MP added: “I have given you the benefit of the doubt at each turn, out of loyalty to you as prime minister and to our great party. The events of this week, however, have made these contortions impossible.”

Mr Johnson, for his part, has rejected calls for his resignation and insists he will remain in office.