We swear we've seen this exact moment on The Thick Of It 🤔

What happened in this episode?

In this short excerpt, former Conservative minister and Plymouth MP Johnny Mercer describes what he portrays as a chaotic and public end to his time in Boris Johnson’s government. Mercer says he was summoned by the chief whip and told that Johnson wanted him to leave. He recounts refusing to resign voluntarily, arguing that resignation requires an affirmative act and insisting that, if he was to go, he should be directly told he was sacked.

Mercer says the chief whip would not look him in the eye or explicitly say the words, and that he left the meeting without a formal dismissal. Moments later, he recalls receiving a text from his wife Felicity saying a Sky News alert had reported he had been sacked; Mercer says he initially disputed it, before a chief whip called to confirm he had indeed been dismissed.

He further recounts receiving an angry call from Johnson, who, Mercer says, was shouting and appeared surprised to see the sacking reported on television, prompting Mercer to tell him that he had already left government. Mercer closes by arguing that while the episode can be laughed off in Westminster terms, poor administrative discipline has real-world consequences for people reliant on public services, citing addiction support in Plymouth as an example.

What are the key points?

• Johnny Mercer says the chief whip told him Boris Johnson wanted him to leave government.
• Mercer recalls refusing to resign unless explicitly told he was sacked.
• He says he learned via a Sky News alert, relayed by his wife, that he had been sacked.
• Mercer says the chief whip later called to confirm the dismissal.
• He recounts Johnson phoning him angrily, appearing unaware that Mercer had been publicly sacked.
• Mercer argues the episode reflects a wider problem of government dysfunction affecting delivery of public services.

Which topics are covered?

How is this page sourced?

Programme

The Rest Is Politics

Published

10 August 2026

Duration

1m

Original episode

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