Wednesday 6 July 2022 09:15 AM Tory ex-chief whip Andrew Mitchell likens Boris Johnson's survival to attempts ... trends now
Former Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell likened Boris Johnson's political survival to the attempts to kill notorious Russian mystic Rasputin today, as he said he has been 'poisoned, stabbed' and 'shot' but 'still he lives'.
The senior Conservative backbencher was speaking after the resignations of Health Secretary Sajid Javid and Chancellor Rishi Sunak last night.
Their departures plunged Boris Johnson's Government into chaos, with the Prime Minister attempting to shore up his position by quickly replacing his former colleagues.
However, Mr Mitchell told Newsnight that the PM's time in Downing Street 'is over' and said Mr Johnson has to think 'very carefully' about what is in the 'best interests' of the country and the Conservative Party.
He then drew a direct link between Mr Johnson's insistence on clinging on and the famous account of the protracted assassination of Grigori Rasputin in 1916.
The infamous Russian monk was killed by disgruntled noblemen after gaining enormous influence over Russia's last Tsar, Nicholas II, and his wife Alexandra.
'It is a bit like the death of Rasputin. He has been poisoned, stabbed, he has been shot, his body has been dumped in a freezing river and still he lives,' Mr Mitchell said.
Former Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell likened Boris Johnson's political survival to the attempts to kill notorious Russian mystic Rasputin today, as he said he has been 'poisoned, stabbed' and 'shot' but 'still he lives'
Mr Javid announced his resignation in an incendiary letter to the PM last night, with Mr Sunak following just minutes later with a similar broadside.
The PM appointed his chief of staff Steve Barclay to replace Mr Javid as Health Secretary, whilst Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi was promoted to become Chancellor.
It came after former top civil servant Lord McDonald of Salford released a letter which gave critics of the PM further ammunition over his appointment of alleged groper Chris Pincher to the whips' office.
Mr Sunak warned in his resignation letter that 'we cannot continue like this' and said he was going despite accepting that his senior job might be the last position he holds in Government.
'The public rightly expect Government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously,' he wrote.
Speaking on Newsnight, Mr Mitchell drew a direct comparison between Mr Johnson's insistence on clinging on and the famous account of the protracted assassination of Grigori Rasputin (pictured) in 1916
Meanwhile, Mr Javid questioned Mr Johnson's integrity, competence and ability to act in the national interest.
Speaking shortly afterwards, Mr Mitchell said: 'I'm afraid it is over and the question now is how much longer this is going to go on and what damage will be done to the country and indeed to the Conservative Party brand.
'But it is over and tonight the Prime Minister must think very carefully about what is in the best interests of the country and the Conservative Party.'
He added: 'This is an abnormal prime minister, a brilliantly charismatic, very funny, very amusing, big, big character but I am afraid he has neither the character nor the temperament to be our Prime Minister.'
The initial attempt on Rasputin's life came in July 1916, when he was stabbed in the stomach by a Russian peasant woman.
Despite being seriously injured and needing an operation, he did survive.
The most famous account of his subsequent death, written by leading plotter Prince Felix Yussoupov, claimed that Rasputin was initially poisoned with cyanide-laced food and wine, but that he seemed to be unaffected.
Suspecting he was protected by supernatural powers, he was then
