Priti Patel, the home secretary to Tory leaders Liz Truss and Priti Patel, resigned tonight.
Many believed Ms. Patel would be fired by Attorney General Suella Brverman, when Ms. Truss is elected prime minister.
She made an immediate strike, however. Tonight she announced that she will return to the backbenches if her successor is revealed.
Boris Johnson received a note from her stating that it was an honour and privilege to serve, but that she wouldn’t seek to continue.
There has been criticism of her handling of the Channel refugee crises and Rwandan deportation schemes, but she has never received a single migration to Africa.
Her letter to Boris Johnson stated that she congratulated Liz Truss and would like her support as the new prime minister.
“It is my decision to continue my public services to the country, the Witham constituency and the country from the backbenches once Liz officially assumes office. A new home secretary will be appointed.”
Priti Patel, the home secretary to Tory leaders Liz Truss and Priti Patel, resigned tonight.
Many believed Ms. Patel would be fired by Attorney General Suella Brverman when Ms. Truss is elected prime minister. Tomorrow’s government reshuffle will result in Ms. Patel losing her job.
Ms. Patel told her friends that she doesn’t want to take another job. She was also expected to go back to work if offered a promotion.
While she was open to a run for the top post, she chose not to participate in order to split the right-wing vote.
After several years of ineffectively dealing with migrants from France crossing the Channel, she appeared to be being replaced by Suella Braverman.
At the end of August government figures showed more than 25,000 migrants have crossed the Channel to the UK so far this year. The record number of crossings by small boats is expected to reach 2022, which means it will be another record-breaking year.
Since Ms Patel revealed plans to send migrants into Rwanda in an effort to stop people from crossing the Channel, it has been more than four years.
After making the long journey, 19,878 people have reached the UK.