Sajid Javid Calls Backing Liz Truss His “Biggest Mistake” in Politics

At the Hay Festival in Wales, former chancellor and ex-MP Sajid Javid told broadcaster Aasmah Mir that supporting Liz Truss in the 2022 Conservative leadership contest was his “biggest mistake in politics”. Javid, who left Parliament at the 2024 general election, made the remark while promoting his memoir and noted that he no longer keeps in touch with Truss. He also dismissed the recent wave of Tory defections to the Reform Party with a curt “Good riddance”.

The Guardian

Boris Johnson resigned as prime minister in July 2022, triggering a leadership race. Javid launched his own bid but was eliminated in the first round. He then endorsed Liz Truss, who won the contest and became prime minister. Truss’s government introduced a “disastrous mini-budget”, and her tenure lasted only 49 days before she resigned in October 2022. Javid later served as health secretary under Johnson until his own resignation in July 2022, amid a broader cabinet revolt that precipitated Johnson’s downfall.

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• Truss’s premiership lasted 49 days.

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• Javid proposes halving the number of MPs while doubling their salaries to attract top-professionals such as head teachers, accountants, or doctors.

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Javid framed his reflection as a personal assessment of judgment rather than an accusation against any individual. He argued that the perceived decline in the “calibre of politicians” reflects voter choices, stating that “the politicians reflect what you vote for”. He also linked low MP remuneration to a talent drain, suggesting that better pay would enable the political class to draw from “the top of their game”. Javid’s comments on the Reform Party defections were brief, indicating a lack of concern for the splinter group.

The Guardian

• “Biggest mistake in politics.” — Sajid Javid, Hay Festival interview

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• “No. I said ‘friends’.” — Sajid Javid, responding to a question about contact with Liz Truss

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• “Good riddance.” — Sajid Javid, on Tory MPs defecting to Reform

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• “ Javid, who is now a partner at an investment firm, made the case for increasing MPs’ pay, saying: “We don’t pay politicians enough to attract people from the top of their game – and that could be a head teacher, it could be an accountant, it could be a doctor – to leave their jobs and say, you know what, I want to serve my country.” — Sajid Javid, on MP pay

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• “He said: “Has the calibre of politicians declined in recent years?” — Sajid Javid, on the quality of the political class

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Javid’s remarks implicitly criticize the current Conservative parliamentary culture, labeling recent defections to Reform as unwelcome. No external party or opposition figure offered a counter-argument in the source material, leaving his assessment unchallenged within the article’s scope.

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Javid’s public self-critique highlights internal Conservative reflections on leadership decisions that led to a rapid change of prime minister. His proposal to restructure MP numbers and salaries could reignite debate on parliamentary reform, while his comments on voter responsibility underscore ongoing concerns about political accountability.

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Beyond politics, Javid now serves as a partner at Centricus, a Mayfair-based private-equity and asset-management firm, and chairs the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. His recent statements may influence forthcoming discussions on MP remuneration and the broader health of Britain’s political class.

The Guardian