Sajid Javid calls backing Liz Truss his biggest political mistake
The Story
Former chancellor Sajid Javid said supporting Liz Truss in the Conservative leadership contest was his “biggest mistake in politics.” He made the comment at the Hay festival in Wales while promoting his memoir, and stated he does not speak to Truss.
Key Facts
- Javid said backing Liz Truss in the Conservative leadership contest was his “biggest mistake in politics.”
- He spoke at the Hay festival in Wales while promoting his memoir.
- Asked whether he still speaks to Truss, Javid responded: “No. I said ‘friends’.”
- After Boris Johnson’s resignation in 2022, Javid initially launched his own campaign for the Conservative leadership before backing Truss after being eliminated.
- Truss’s premiership lasted 49 days in 2022 after her government’s mini-budget.
- Javid stood down as an MP at the 2024 election.
- Asked about Tory MPs defecting to Reform, he responded: “Good riddance.”
- Javid argued the quality of Britain’s political class had declined, adding: “Ultimately, the calibre of the politicians is on the people.”
- He proposed halving the number of MPs and doubling their salaries to attract higher-calibre candidates.
- Javid is now a partner at investment firm Centricus and chairs the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
No open questions identified in the source article.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
Sajid Javid (former chancellor, former MP, memoir author), Liz Truss (former prime minister), Aasmah Mir (broadcaster), Boris Johnson (former prime minister), David Cameron (former prime minister, under whom Javid served), Theresa May (former prime minister, under whom Javid served)
Sources: The Guardian
