Thursday 7 July 2022 09:33 AM Boris Johnson RESIGNS as Prime Minister after mutiny from top Tories trends now

The British leader has admitted defeat half-an-hour after a shattering intervention from Nadhim Zahawi, who was only appointed on Tuesday night in the wake of Rishi Sunak's departure. He told Mr Johnson that his situation is 'not sustainable'.

A Downing Street source said Mr Johnson has spoken to Tory 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady and agreed to stand down, with a new Tory leader set to be in place by the party conference in October. 

A spokeswoman said: 'The Prime Minister will make a statement to the country today.'

Although he stopped short of resigning, Mr Zahawi tweeted: 'Prime Minister: this is not sustainable and it will only get worse: for you, for the Conservative Party and most importantly of all the country. You must do the right thing and go now.' 

Education Secretary Michelle Donelan, who was installed in post at the same time as Mr Zahawi, also declared she is quitting, barely two hours after Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis fell on his sword. 

The PM had vowed defiance despite the overwhelming evidence of his authority draining away.

At 6.47am, Mr Lewis tweeted that he could no longer continue without 'honesty, integrity and mutual respect'. 

Minutes later Treasury minister Helen Whately followed suit saying 'there are only so many times you can apologise and move on'. 

Security minister Damian Hinds and science minister George Freeman had followed by 7.30am, and pensions minister Guy Opperman by 7.50am.

Meanwhile, Wales minister David TC Davies publicly announced that he had refused a promotion to take over from Welsh Secretary Simon Hart, who quit last night. The Attorney General, Suella Braverman has called for Mr Johnson to resign and said she is only staying in place to keep the government functioning. 

With the resignation tally now standing at 52, the government has been unable to find a minister willing to go on the airwaves to speak up for the PM this morning - with total silence coming from his team. 

The chief whip Chris Heaton-Harris was seen going into Downing Street early, after the lights were seen on in the PM's flat deep into the night. 

However, Mr Johnson's critics have been swarming to studios.

Former Cabinet minister Julian Smith warned that the premier had seen how Donald Trump behaved in relation to the Capitol riots after the US election, and was looking to have a 'mini version in the UK'.

There are even suggestions from allies that Mr Johnson could try to force a snap general election in a desperate bid to cling to office - something that could drag the Queen into a constitutional crisis. 

Veteran Tory MP Bernard Jenkin this morning urged Carrie Johnson to step in a convince her husband that he should throw in the towel. 

But the PM yesterday rejected pleas from a delegation of loyalists including Priti Patel and new chancellor Nadhim Zahawi for a seemly departure, vowing to fight until the bitter end. 

Despite the UK being a parliamentary democracy, he claimed to have a presidential-style mandate from the last election, apparently saying: 'If the party wants to overthrow the elected will of the people, they have to dip their hands in blood.'

In a sensational twist late last night, Mr Johnson summarily sacked Michael Gove with No10 sources branding the Levelling Up Secretary a 'snake' who had tried to tell the premier that the 'the game was up'. 

Constitutional experts have branded the 'nuclear option' of asking the Queen for a dissolution 'deluded madness' which would spark a crisis as the monarch would be obliged to turned down his request. 

In his resignation letter, Mr Lewis - a former party chairman who has been Northern Ireland Secretary since early 2020 - warned divided Conservatives cannot win elections.

He said: 'A decision to leave Government is never taken lightly, particularly at such a critical time for Northern Ireland. I have taken a lot of time to consider this decision, having outlined my position to you at length last night.

Mr Lewis told the Prime Minister that in recent months, the Conservative Party has been 'relentlessly on the defensive, consumed by introspection and in-fighting'.

'A divided Party cannot win elections. It cannot deliver for those who trusted us with their votes for the first time in 2019.'

Mr Lewis told Mr Johnson he had 'given you, and those around you, the benefit of the doubt'.

'I have gone out and defended this Government both publicly and privately,' the Northern Ireland Secretary told Boris Johnson in his resignation letter.

'We are, however, now past the point of no return. I cannot sacrifice my personal integrity to defend things as they stand now. It is clear that our Party, parliamentary colleagues, volunteers and the whole country, deserve better.'

Ms Whately, MP for Faversham and Mid Kent and another loyalist, said: 'I have argued that you should continue as Prime Minister many times in recent months, but there are only so many times you can apologise and move on. That point has been reached.'

Security minister and MP for East Hampshire Damian Hinds wrote on Twitter: 'It shouldn't take the resignation of dozens of colleagues, but for our country, and trust in our democracy, we must have a change of leadership.'

In his letter of resignation, he wrote: '…more important than any government or leader are the standards we uphold in public life and faith in our democracy and public administration.

'Because of the serious erosion in these, I have come to the conclusion that the right thing for our country and for our party is for you to stand down as party leader and Prime Minister.

'I had hoped you would take this course sooner, of your own volition. But as it has become clear that you still intend to stay, I cannot continue to serve in your administration.'

Mr Freeman said 'the chaos in your Cabinet and No 10 this month is destroying our credibility' and 'it can't go on'. 

Pensions minister and Hexam MP Guy Opperman wrote on Twitter: 'I resign with great regret, given there are serious ongoing issues that need addressing ranging from cost of living support, to legislation, & parliamentary debates.

'It should not take the resignation of 50 colleagues, but sadly the PM has left us no choice. He needs to resign.'

Deputy PM Dominic Raab is thought to have told the Prime Minister that he risked putting the monarch in an intolerable position if he tried to call a snap election, The Sun reports. 

The Queen, 96, was yesterday pictured being driven from Wood Farm near Sandringham, Norfolk, to her helicopter which flew her back to Windsor Castle. 

She typically holds a weekly meeting with the Prime Minister on Wednesdays, which have frequently taken place over the phone since the coronavirus pandemic broke out, but it is not clear whether it occurred yesterday amid the pandemonium surrounding Mr Johnson's leadership. 

Concern among MPs comes following the approval of the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act which was brought into law this year, repealing the Fixed-term Parliaments Act and allowing for the body to be dissolved by the Queen 'on the request of the prime minister'. 

Conservative MPs worry that the Prime Minister could try to use it to save his premiership.

A government source told The Times: 'It is something that was talked about but it is completely deluded madness.'

In two days of drama, more than 40 resignations have been sent to the Prime Minister since Sajid Javid sparked a tidal wave of revolt late on Tuesday evening in a move that now threatens to bring the Government to its knees. 

Home Secretary Priti Patel, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis were among the Cabinet ministers telling Mr Johnson to stand down.

Attorney General and leadership hopeful Suella Braverman later joined the calls for the Prime Minister to quit as she launched a bid to replace him.

And Mr Johnson was last night hit with the departure of another Cabinet minister - Welsh Secretary Simon Hart  

It is understood that senior Conservatives have been told by the Cabinet Office that the head of the civil service, Simon Case, would warn against the PM asking for a dissolution on the grounds that it would drag the Queen into politics. 

One senior MP said that the civil service would advise against putting the Queen in a 'difficult position', and his private secretary or cabinet secretary would tell him not to seek a dissolution because while the monarch could refuse it would be seen as constitutionally 'inappropriate' to put her in a position where she has to make a 'controversial decision'. 

Under the 'Lascelles principles', the monarch can turn down a request for a dissolution on three conditions, which are:

Senior Tory MPs think all conditions are met and, one Johnson supporter predicted the Queen would refuse to allow the dissolution of parliament by 'finding a way of being busy until we've sorted this mess out ourselves'. 

Behind the famous black door of No10, the PM had earlier struggled with backbench chief Sir Graham Brady and senior figures including chief whip Chris Heaton-Harris - who warned him that the 'game is up'.

But an unapologetic PM shocked Sir Graham and his ministers by telling them he is going nowhere, effectively daring them to call another confidence vote and saying he will focus on the 'hugely important issues facing the country'. There are claims he has told friends 'if you are going to die, go down fighting'. 

The PM appointed his chief of staff Steve Barclay to replace Mr Javid as Health Secretary, and universities minister Michelle Donelan was promoted to Cabinet to replace Nadhim Zahawi.

Mr Zahawi is believed to have agreed to launch a new economic plan alongside Mr Johnson today, but it is not known if this will go ahead amid the crisis surrounding Mr Johnson's premiership.  

Former royal aide Samantha Cohen - known as 'Samantha the Panther' is now being lined up to restore order to the Downing Street operation, and was appointed Mr Johnson's interim Chief of Staff after Mr Barclay was moved to become Health Secretary.

Meanwhile, the dramatic sacking of Mr Gove, a long-standing ally who has served in Cabinet roles in successive governments since 2010, came after a whirlwind two days in Westminster that has seen Mr Johnson's core support hemorrhage.

The PM's relationship with Mr Gove has long been troubled, with Mr Johnson's leadership campaign in 2016 derailed when his rival withdrew support and decided to run himself.

Mr Johnson phoned the Levelling Up Secretary yesterday evening to tell him he was being removed from his Cabinet job, accusing him of 'treachery'.

One senior Tory told The Sun: 'He has lost it. He has become like Caligula — the Roman emperor who wanted to make a horse a consul. Michael was one of the best ministers in the Cabinet.' 

The sacking came after the minister went alone to see Mr Johnson in his Downing Street study shortly before 10.30am yesterday and tried to persuade him to stand down.

Mr Gove warned the PM his position was 'no longer sustainable', telling him: 'The party will move to get rid of you'.

'It is better to go on your own terms,' he urged him.

Despite his pleading, at the end of the amicable five-minute conversation, Mr Johnson told Mr Gove: 'Thank you, but I am going to fight on.'

The pair then walked down the corridor to the Cabinet Room, where the Levelling Up Secretary helped Mr Johnson to prepare for Prime Minister's Questions.

But the minister was noticeably absent from the frontbench as the PM faced MPs.

At 2.27pm, the news that Mr Gove had told Mr Johnson to go was broken on The Mail+. But the Levelling Up Secretary's allies insisted he was not quitting and was not planning to lead a wider delegation of ministers to Downing Street to call for the PM to stand down.

An hour later the Prime Minister was questioned about his cabinet colleague's warning to him as he appeared before the Commons liaison committee.

Mr Johnson did not dispute that Mr Gove had told him he should resign. Asked if the story was true, he replied: 'I am here to talk about what the Government is doing. I am not going to give a running commentary on political events.'

At around 9pm, Mr Johnson rang Mr Gove to sack him. Neither Mr Gove nor his advisers were the source of The Mail+ story, but the PM said he believed the minister was behind the leak.

A No 10 source last night accused him of being a 'snake', adding: 'You cannot brief the Press that you're calling on the PM to go and expect to stay in Cabinet.

'It's not the first time he's been treacherous, appalling and disloyal. This is something he [Mr Johnson] should have done years ago. We need team players who share the PM's vision for Britain.'

Danny Kruger, who had been a ministerial aide to Mr Gove at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) last night said he was quitting his post in response to the sacking. 'Very sorry indeed to hear Michael Gove has been fired by the PM,' he tweeted. 'As I told No 10 earlier today it should be the PM leaving office. I am resigning as PPS [Parliamentary Private Secretary] at DLUHC.'

Three ministers at the department – Kemi Badenoch, Neil O'Brien and Stuart Andrew – had earlier announced they were quitting. Duncan Baker, another PPS, also resigned.

Tory former minister Tim Loughton said last night: 'Michael Gove has taken the PM the traditional whisky and revolver. The PM has downed the whisky and turned the revolver on Gove.'

Mr Gove torpedoed Mr Johnson's Tory leadership bid in 2016 following the Brexit referendum, when he dramatically withdrew support for his campaign at the last minute and then ran himself.

Ultimately it ended both men's hopes and left the field clear for Theresa May to reach No 10.

In the 2019 Conservative leadership race, Mr Gove finished third place amid claims votes were switched from Mr Johnson to ensure Jeremy Hunt made the final two instead of him.

A Johnson ally claimed at the time: 'He stabbed us in the back. We stabbed him in the front.'

But Mr Johnson made Mr Gove Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in his first Cabinet in July 2019 before moving him to become the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Mr Gove has been in and out of Cabinet positions. David Cameron removed Mr Gove from his post as education secretary in 2014 and demoted him to the role of chief whip. When Theresa May became prime minister in 2016, she sacked Mr Gove as justice secretary, before bringing him back as environment secretary a year later.

There was yesterday 'pretty strong view' across the 1922 Committee that Mr Johnson should go, a Conservative MP has said.

Speaking to the PA news agency, David Simmonds, who represents the Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner constituency, said the Prime Minister should go as the 'message has been very clear from colleagues'.

On the 1922 Committee meeting, Mr Simmonds said: 'There were a couple of people who would agree with that (that he should not go). Well, there was one person I can think of, but other than that, no, I think it was a pretty strong view across the piece.'

Mr Simmonds said there are quite a few 'good candidates' that could replace Mr Johnson as leader, adding: 'I'm not canvassing for anybody. But I think we have got a fair few good people. I think Rishi Sunak has a good economic vision for the country.

'I was a strong Remainer. But I think as somebody who believes in Brexit, he has actually got a plan. So I like that.'

Energy minister Greg Hands has defended his decision to remain in the Government amid a slew of resignations and mounting pressure for Boris Johnson to resign as Prime Minister.

Mr Hands told the PA news agency: 'Well I think the majority of the Government has not resigned, the majority of Government is carrying on and we will have to see what happens at the top, yeah.'

Asked how in good conscience he can continue to serve in an administration beset by scandal, he added: 'Because I have got a job to do, to deliver on energy and climate change and that's exactly what I am going to be carrying on doing.'

On whether his constituents support this decision, he added: 'Well, I think my constituents, they vote for me as their member of Parliament, I hope that they would continue to do so.'

And Attorney General Suella Braverman says she will continue in her role despite calling for the Prime Minister to quit.

The Cabinet minister, who has previously been a staunch supporter of Boris Johnson, told Peston on ITV that he had handled matters 'appallingly' in recent days.

She said: 'The balance has tipped now in favour of saying that the Prime Minister - it pains me to say it - but it's time to go.'

She said she will put her name into the ring if there is a leadership contest.

She told Peston: 'My first duty is to the country, Robert, and as attorney I'm the senior law officer.

'And we're in a crisis and I have statutory legal and constitutional duties...