Javid brands Truss backing his ‘biggest mistake’ as he calls for parliamentary overhaul

Sajid Javid has identified his support for Liz Truss during the 2022 Conservative leadership contest as his “biggest mistake in politics”, revealing that the former prime minister is no longer among his contacts. Speaking at the Hay Festival in Wales, the former chancellor, who left Parliament following the 2024 general election, clarified that his earlier reference to maintaining relationships with “friends” in the party did not extend to Truss.

Javid’s intervention comes as he promotes his memoir, offering a stark assessment of the current political landscape. When asked by broadcaster Aasmah Mir about his past decision to back Truss after his own leadership bid was eliminated, Javid did not equivocate. He stated that the support was a significant error, noting that Truss’s premiership lasted only 49 days before market turmoil forced her resignation.

The former Health Secretary also expressed strong approval for the recent wave of Conservative MPs defecting to the Reform party, describing the departures as “good riddance”. Javid argued that the perceived decline in the calibre of British politicians is not solely the fault of the political class but is a reflection of voter behaviour. He asserted that the quality of representatives is determined by the electorate, stating that citizens must vote differently if they wish to see a change in the type of people entering politics.

Javid proposed structural reforms to address what he described as a deterioration in political standards. He argued that current remuneration fails to attract high-calibre professionals from fields such as teaching, accounting, and medicine. To rectify this, he suggested halving the number of MPs while doubling their salaries, positing that the system should pay more to attract individuals from the “top of their game” to serve the country.

Prior to his departure from public office, Javid served in multiple cabinet roles under David Cameron, Theresa May, and Boris Johnson, including terms as Home Secretary and Chancellor. He resigned as Health Secretary in July 2022 amid a series of resignations that contributed to the end of Boris Johnson’s premiership. He is now a partner at Centricus, a private equity firm based in Mayfair, and serves as chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.