FOREST MP Mark Harper said Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid were right to quit the cabinet ahead of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s resignation last week.

And the former chief whip, who has been outspoken in his criticism of Johnson’s leadership over the last few years, announced he was backing Mr Sunak to become the next leader of the Conservative party on Friday (July 8).

The MP spoke to Andrew Marr on LBC Radio about the ministers’ resignations last Wednesday (July 6), following the revelation that the Prime Minister knew that former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher had been accused of sexual assault before he appointed him to Government.

Mr Harper said the scandal was “the final straw” for many of his colleagues, whose resignations and calls for Johnson to stand down led to his resignation as leader of the Conservative party on Thursday (June 7).

It was later agreed by the cabinet that Mr Johnson would stay on as “caretaker” PM until a new leader is appointed in the Autumn.

Mr Harper said the ministers’ resignations “showed leadership”, and praised them for having “sent out a message” to other party members.

He said he became “increasingly angry” at Prime Minister’s Questions as Mr Johnson tried to explain away the scandal.

“It’s clear the Prime Minister knew that the former deputy Chief Whip had committed assault”, Mr Harper said.

“There was a process and he was judged to have done those things and frankly I don’t know why the Prime Minister didn’t sack him.

“I was getting increasingly angry at the Prime Minister’s inability to see what the problem was.

“He put him in a job where he was responsible for the welfare and the pastoral care of my Parliamentary colleagues and he put them at risk and I think that is unconscionable and for many colleagues that was the final straw.”

He also criticised the PM over rumours that he wanted to call an early General Election before his resignation on Thursday.

“I’m very clear that no Prime Minister should attempt to drag the Queen into political controversy,” he added.

Then, on Friday, Mr Harper, who lost out in the first round of the last Tory leadership race in 2019, threw his support behind Rishi Sunak to become the next Prime Minister, with some polls suggesting that the former chancellor is the best placed candidate to win the next General Election.

Mr Harper tweeted: “Our next Prime Minister must rebuild trust.

“I’m backing Rishi Sunak to give our United Kingdom the serious, competent leadership we need.”

And he added on Sunday (July 10): “Cutting taxes on families should be a priority of a Conservative Government.

“But tax cuts have to be paid for. Our next Prime Minister needs to be honest with the British people about how to achieve this.

“I trust Rishi Sunak with that vital task.”