WARRINGTON North MP Charlotte Nichols says questions must be asked following the Chancellor's shock resignation today, Thursday.

Labour MPs have been quick to blame the Prime Minister's chief adviser Dominic Cummings as the driving force behind the resignation of Sajid Javid as chancellor weeks before the Budget.

It comes after long-standing rumours of tension between Boris Johnson's closest aide and the ex-chancellor.

Ms Nichols said on Twitter: "Dominic Cummings is unelected, unaccountable and appears to have just effectively forced the resignation of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

"Questions must be asked about his role and status in this Government."

Mr Javid's  shock decision came after he refused to sack his advisers, a source close to the former home secretary said.

Tensions between Number 10 and Number 11 had been simmering since Mr Javid's adviser Sonia Khan was escorted out of Downing Street by police officers after being sacked by Mr Cummings in August last year.

Appointed in July to Mr Johnson's first Cabinet, his first planned Budget in November was cancelled as the Prime Minister pursued a snap election and Mr Javid would have been preparing for the parliamentary set-piece scheduled for March 11.

Warrington Guardian: Sajid Javid

He is the shortest-serving chancellor since Iain Macleod, who died shortly after taking office in 1970, according to the Institute for Government.

Rishi Sunak, Mr Javid's former deputy at the Treasury, has now been appointed to the role of Chancellor.