Sajid Javid described his decision to support Liz Truss in the Conservative leadership race that led to her becoming prime minister as his greatest political error. At the Hay festival in Wales, where he was promoting his memoir, the former chancellor and current non-MP noted he still keeps in touch with some Conservative colleagues. When asked if he communicates with Truss, he answered no and clarified that he had referred only to friends. The interviewer pointed out his earlier endorsement of Truss in the initial contest, prompting Javid to call it his biggest mistake in politics. After Boris Johnson stepped down in 2022, Javid began his own leadership bid but switched to Truss once eliminated. Her term ended after just 49 days due to the fallout from a troubled mini-budget. Javid, who left Parliament ahead of the 2024 election, dismissed recent Conservative defections to Reform as good riddance. He also stated that the standard of British politicians has fallen sharply in recent years, though he added that voters share responsibility since politicians mirror the choices made at the ballot box. He suggested people should focus less on party labels and more on candidates personal qualities and motives. Now a partner at an investment firm, Javid advocated higher pay for MPs to draw top talent from fields such as teaching, accounting and medicine. He proposed halving the number of MPs while doubling their salaries. Javid held several cabinet posts under David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson, including home secretary, chancellor and health secretary, before resigning in 2022. Following his departure from Parliament, he joined Centricus, a Mayfair-based private equity firm, and chairs the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.
