Boris Johnson has faced questions from MPs at Prime Minister’s Questions as ministers and aides continue to quit his Government in protest at his leadership.

The crisis at the heart of Mr Johnson’s administration started to unfold on Tuesday evening when chancellor Rishi Sunak and health secretary Sajid Javid quit their posts, to be replaced by Nadhim Zahawi and Steve Barclay.

A series of ministers including Kemi Badenoch, Mims Davies, Alex Burghart, Robin Walker, Will Quince and John Glen resigned on Wednesday, along with several parliamentary private secretaries, as the crisis escalated for the Prime Minister.

Here are the latest updates:

14.55pm

Craig Tracey
Craig Tracey (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/PA)

14.54pm

Craig Tracey has called for the Prime Minister to go, saying “we need new leadership”.

In a post on Facebook, the Tory MP for North Warwickshire wrote: “Whilst I have not revealed how I voted in the recent vote of confidence, I discussed with the whips’ office that if I did decide to support the Prime Minister, then it would be his final opportunity to ‘right the ship’. This was a message I also relayed directly to him.

“Unfortunately, revelations over the last week or so show that there has been a clear lack of judgment again by the Prime Minister and as such the condition I set down has already been broken.

“With this in mind and in order to re-assert our party values and implement on the manifesto we received such a resounding majority to deliver, it is abundantly clear that we need new leadership.

“All the good that can be done, and is being done, by those in Government is currently lost in the noise surrounding the Prime Minister, which is both unsustainable nor in the wider best interests of the country.

“In view of this, it is with great regret that I have to advise that I do not believe that Boris Johnson is the right person to be leading our party and, as a result, to be Prime Minister.”

14.48pm

The 21 MPs who have resigned from the Government in the past 24 hours over Mr Johnson’s leadership.

Downing Street turmoil
(UK Parliament/PA)

14.47pm

14.46pm

Former cabinet minister Dr Liam Fox has called on the Prime Minister to resign, saying: “I am today withdrawing my support for you.”

In a letter posted on Twitter, he said: “The events of recent days… have convinced me that unfortunately, you cannot continue to lead the Conservative Party and more importantly our country.

“We have lost too many good people from the Government who could not reconcile their loyalty to you with their conscience. I share their feelings.

“Therefore, it is with a heavy heart that I am today withdrawing my support for you as I no longer have confidence in you as our leader. I urge you to do the right thing and resign.”

14.43pm

Michael Gove
Michael Gove (Victoria Jones/PA)

14.41pm

Cabinet minister Michael Gove has reportedly told the Prime Minister he must step down.

The Daily Mail reported that the Levelling Up Secretary delivered the message at a meeting on Wednesday morning, citing sources.

The newspaper said a spokesman for Mr Gove did not dispute this.

14.37pm

14.36pm

The five ministers said in a joint letter that “the Government cannot function” as they called for Mr Johnson to step down.

“It is with great regret that we are resigning as members of the Government. It has been an honour to serve in your administration and we remain extremely grateful for the opportunity you have given us to serve our country,” they wrote.

“However, it has become increasingly clear that the Government cannot function given the issues that have come to light and the way in which they have been handled. In good faith, we must ask that, for the good of the Party and the country, you step aside.”

14.34pm

14.32pm

Ministers Kemi Badenoch, Julia Lopez, Mims Davies, Lee Rowley, Neil O’Brien and Alex Burghart have announced they are resigning.

14.30pm

The odds have been shortening on the end of Mr Johnson’s premiership.

Downing Street turmoil
A man puts out a chalkboard in Parliament Square with the latest odds on when Boris Johnson will leave his post and who will replace him (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

14.28pm

14.27pm

Ben Spencer has called for the Prime Minister to resign.

In a letter shared on Twitter, the Tory MP for Runnymede and Weybridge said “leadership means taking responsibility for one’s actions”.

He wrote: “The appointment of a person to a senior position in Government, a role which included safeguarding the welfare of others, when there existed allegations of sexual misconduct and previously upheld complaints about his behaviour, is simply inexcusable.

“In response we have seen obfuscation and deflection around the facts surrounding his appointment, depressingly similar to that seen to the ‘partygate’ scandal.

“We rightly expect the highest standards in Government, and leadership means taking responsibility for one’s actions.

“The Prime Minister should resign.”

14.14pm

POLITICS Johnson
(PA Graphics)

14.13pm

14.12pm

MP for East Devon Simon Jupp called on the Prime Minister to resign.

In a letter posted to Twitter, he said: “Too many of the challenges faced by the Prime Minister are a result of self-inflicted wounds.

“Leaders must demonstrate integrity, honesty, and set a high standard that we can all be proud of.

“The current situation is a grotesque distraction from the many challenges we face as a nation.

“I cannot tolerate this any longer… in order to restore trust in the highest office of the land, the Prime Minister must do the decent thing and resign.”

14.01pm

Robert Jenrick
Robert Jenrick (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

14.00pm

Conservative former housing secretary Robert Jenrick has called for Mr Johnson’s resignation, saying he has suffered an “irretrievable loss of trust”.

Mr Jenrick, who served in the Prime Minister’s cabinet until September, said he had written to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady to say he wants Mr Johnson to go.

The MP wrote: “I have always wanted the Prime Minister to succeed and I gave him every opportunity to do so. However it has become painfully clear that we are failing to provide the coherence, grip and direction that the country needs and deserves in these challenging time.

“More fundamentally there has been a significant and, I fear, irretrievable loss of trust with the public, confirmed by the mishandling of serious allegations in recent days. If we continue along our present path we risk doing lasting damage to the reputation of the Conservative Party for competence and good government and, more importantly, to the standing of politics generally.

“I can no longer, in all good conscience, support this.”

13.55pm

Huw Merriman
Huw Merriman (Victoria Jones/PA)

13.54pm

Senior Conservative MP Huw Merriman said Mr Johnson would resign if he had “any dignity left”.

The previously supportive chairman of the Commons Transport Select Committee told BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme: “My position today after what’s happened over the last few days, in particular with the Prime Minister blatantly either lying or being incompetent in terms of failing to remember what happened to the deputy chief whip, that just makes his position untenable, in my view.

“So, I no longer support him, I’ve put a letter into Sir Graham Brady submitting my no confidence. I’ve also said that I hope Sir Graham will take my letter and the letters of others to either change the rules so we can have another leadership contest, or tell the Prime Minister that the rules will end up being changed unless he himself does the right thing and steps down.

“So, I’ve lost all faith and I think the last few days have been absolutely appalling for public life and for politics in general, and so we can’t go on like this.

“If the Prime Minister has any dignity left he will realise what’s happening, what he’s created, the buck stops with him and he will stand down.”

13.50pm

Asked if Labour would welcome any Tory MPs who chose to defect amid the leadership crisis, a party spokesman declined to comment.

“I’m not going to speculate on private conversations,” he said.

13.49pm

David Johnston has quit as a ministerial aide in the Department for Education.

He said: “I cannot defend what has taken place these past few days – or indeed these past few months.”

The Wantage MP added: “It is very important to me that we do all we can to encourage good people into politics so that the country is well served, but events in recent months have made the view of politics and politicians worse and will only put more people off entering it, which I deeply regret.

“I know from my inbox that there are different views about the Prime Minister, but I do not believe he can provide the leadership the country needs.”

13.46pm

13.45pm

After previously backing the Prime Minister, as he believed a Conservative leadership race would be a distraction from international issues such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Tory MP for Elmet and Rothwell Alec Shelbrooke said Mr Johnson’s premiership can “go on no longer”.

He said in a statement posted to Twitter: “It is now clear to me that the Prime Minister’s leadership of the Conservative Party can go on no longer as it is causing a distraction from the serious international issues we face as a country.

“Honesty and integrity should be the watchwords of all politicians, and it remains so for the large majority of Conservative MPs. I no longer believe, after several resets, that these values can be re-embedded under the current leadership.”

13.44pm

Labour is not currently planning to table a confidence vote in the Prime Minister, according to a spokesman.

He said: “The process is that it is for the Conservative Party to determine the future of the Prime Minister. That is their responsibility in this situation.”

Labour would welcome a general election, the spokesman added.

“The country needs a fresh start, we need a real change that isn’t just a change at the top of the Conservative Party. This would be the fourth leader in 12 years and we’ve still got the same fundamental problems that we’ve had throughout all of that period.”

13.42pm

Claire Coutinho
Claire Coutinho (UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/PA)

13.41pm

Claire Coutinho has resigned as a parliamentary private secretary to the Treasury.

She wrote on Facebook: “I firmly believe that what we need now, as we deal with the twin challenges of war in Europe and global inflation, is a laser-like grip on reforming our public services so that they work better for our constituents and focus on charting a path to prosperity through what is an increasingly challenging global outlook.

“I think the events of recent weeks and months are preventing us from doing that. I, of course, look forward to continuing to serve all of you to the best of my abilities.”

13.40pm

Selaine Saxby
Selaine Saxby (PA)

13.39pm

13.38pm

Selaine Saxby has resigned as a ministerial aide.

The Tory MP tweeted a photograph of her resignation letter, adding that “with much regret” she “can no longer continue” in her role as a parliamentary private secretary.

13.32pm

Asked to set the record straight on whether Mr Johnson used the phrase “Pincher by name, pincher by nature”, the PM’s press secretary said she would not “get into those kinds of reports”.

13.17pm

Mr Johnson is confident he will be able to fill the posts of all the ministers and parliamentary aides who have resigned, the Prime Minister’s press secretary said.

“There will be further appointments over the coming days,” she said.

13.15pm

Sajid Javid delivers a personal statement to the House of Commons
Sajid Javid delivers a personal statement (House of Commons/PA)

13.14pm

Mr Javid told MPs: “I am deeply concerned about how the next generation will see the Conservative Party on our current course. Our reputation after 12 years in government depends on regaining the public’s trust.”

He said if the Conservative ideals of “decency” and personal responsibility and the rule of law could not be upheld, “the Conservative mission to extend freedom and prosperity and opportunity is all at risk”.

13.13pm

The Prime Minister’s press secretary said Mr Johnson is confident he still has the support of his backbench MPs.

She also said he would contest another confidence vote if one were held, but described last month’s ballot as “clear and decisive”.

Asked if the PM is confident he has the support of his backbenchers, she said simply: “Yes.”

13.10pm

In an apparent message to members of the Cabinet who have stayed, Mr Javid said “not doing something is an active decision”.

He told MPs: “Last month I gave the benefit of doubt one last time… I have concluded that the problem starts at the top and I believe that is not going to change, and that means that it is for those of us in a position who have responsibility to make that change.

“I wish my Cabinet colleagues well and I can see they have decided to remain in the Cabinet. They will have their own reasons.”

Laughter could be heard in the chamber as Mr Javid went on: “But it is a choice. I know just how difficult that choice is. But let’s be clear, not doing something is an active decision.”

13.07pm

Mr Javid told the Commons he gave the Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt on partygate, but added that “the reset button can only work so many times”.

He said: “When the first stories of parties in Downing Street emerged late last year I was personally assured at the most senior level by my right honourable friend’s then team that, and I quote, ‘there had been no parties in Downing Street and no rules were broken’.

“So I gave the benefit of doubt. And I went on those media rounds to say that I’d had those assurances from the most senior level of the Prime Minister’s team.

“Then we had more stories. We had the Sue Gray report, a new Downing Street team. I continued to give the benefit of the doubt.”

After saying “enough is enough”, Mr Javid said he appreciated the Prime Minister’s “kind and humble words, and his humble spirit when I went to see him yesterday”.

He added: “But I do fear that the reset button can only work so many times. There’s only so many times you can turn that machine on and off before you realise that something is fundamentally wrong.”

13.05pm

Mr Johnson says the job of a prime minister is to keep going.

12.59pm

12.58pm

Mr Javid told the Commons that “enough is enough”.

He said: “This week again, we have reason to question the truth and integrity of what we’ve all been told. And at some point we have to conclude that enough is enough.

“I believe that point is now.”

12.57pm

Mr Johnson joked “there is a ready supply of skilled labour in the upper reaches of the Conservative Party” when he was asked about resignations.

His comment came as Labour’s Peter Dowd (Bootle) said: “Given that the Prime Minister doesn’t like walkouts and strikes, what legislation will he be introducing to stop further walkouts and strikes amongst his Cabinet colleagues and (junior) ministers?”

Mr Johnson replied: “I think that the whole House would have observed the brilliant performance on radio this morning by the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, and that’s no disrespect to the former chancellor of the exchequer, but what I think it shows is that, in common with many sectors of the UK economy, there is a ready supply of skilled labour in the upper reaches of the Conservative Party.”

12.55pm

Mr Javid told the Commons: “I also believe a team is as good as its team captain and a captain is as good as his or her team. So loyalty must go both ways.

“The events of recent months have made it increasingly difficult to be in that team.

“It’s not fair on ministerial colleagues to go out every morning defending lines that don’t stand up and don’t hold up.

“It’s not fair on my parliamentary colleagues who bear the brunt of constituents’ dismay in their inboxes and on the doorsteps in recent elections.

“And it’s not fair on Conservative members and voters who rightly expect better standards from the party they supported.”

12.54pm

Conservative former cabinet minister David Davis called on Mr Johnson to “put the interests of the nation before his own interests”.

The MP for Haltemprice and Howden said: “Six months ago I called on the Prime Minister to resign because even then it was clear that his approach to leadership and integrity was already creating a pipeline of problems that will paralyse proper government.

“Today I ask him to do the honourable thing, to put the interests of the nation before his own interests and before, in his own words, it does become impossible for government to do its job.”

Mr Johnson replied: “I just couldn’t disagree with him more. Look at what the Government is doing today, cutting taxes… we’ve just completed a programme to get half a million people off welfare into work, thanks to the strength of our economy.”

12.53pm

Sajid Javid delivers a personal statement to the House of Commons
Sajid Javid delivers a personal statement to the House of Commons (House of Commons/PA)

12.52pm

In his resignation statement, with Mr Johnson watching on, Mr Javid told MPs: “It is incumbent on all of us to set high standards for ourselves and to take action when they are not met by others.”

12.51pm

Former health secretary Sajid Javid, making a personal statement, said he is “instinctively a team player” but told the Commons: “Treading the tightrope between loyalty and integrity has become impossible in recent months.

“I will never risk losing my integrity.”

12.50pm

Stuart Andrew
Stuart Andrew (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/PA)

12.48pm

A Conservative MP has called for the Prime Minister to resign after citing an example of him constantly trying to blame other people for his mistakes.

Birmingham Northfield MP, and executive secretary of the 1922 Committee, Gary Sambrook, told MPs that in an “attempt to boost morale in the tearoom”, the Prime Minister said that “there were seven people, MPs, in the Carlton Club last week and one of them should have tried to intervene to stop Chris from drinking so much”.

He added: “As if that wasn’t insulting enough to the people who did try and intervene that night. And then also to the victims that drink was the problem.

“Isn’t it the example that the Prime Minister constantly tries to deflect from the issue, always tries to blame other people for mistakes, and that leaves nothing left for him to do other than to take responsibility and resign?”

His comment was met with an applause by the Opposition benches, which was immediately scolded by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

Mr Johnson replied: “There is a very simple reason why they want me out, and that is because they know that otherwise we are going to get on and deliver our mandate and win another general election. And that is the reality.”

12.46pm

Stuart Andrew has resigned as housing minister, saying “our party, particularly our members, and more importantly our great country, deserve better”.

12.45pm

Kate Griffiths, the Tory MP for Burton and Staffordshire, has withdrawn her support for Mr Johnson, saying she is “furious” about this week’s Chris Pincher revelations and the Prime Minister should “do the right thing and allow the party to move forward”.

“As constituents know, I have supported the Prime Minister over recent months because I believe that he had got all the big decisions right and his leadership had steered us through some difficult times both home and abroad,” she said in a statement.

“I had hoped that following the confidence vote, we would be able to move ahead and tackle the crucial issues affecting us all. However, like many colleagues, I have had to reassess my position after events of the past couple of weeks.

“It is clear that under the Prime Minister we are not making the progress the country, and crucially, my constituents expect.

“As someone who has been the victim of abuse, at the hands of an MP who told me his position would mean no-one would believe me over him, I am furious that it has now come to light the Prime Minister was aware of the allegations against Chris Pincher, and promoted him to a Government position anyway.

“I promised I would be a voice for victims in Parliament and I cannot do that when the Prime Minister does not take these allegations seriously.

I hope the Prime Minister will do the right thing and allow the party to move forward and deliver what we set out to do.”

12.41pm

Mr Johnson tried to draw the focus back to efforts to help the economy as Mr Blackford told him “it really is over”.

The SNP MP said: “He really ought to see the faces behind him because, Prime Minister, it really is over. The Prime Minister is desperately clinging on to his own fantasy.

“But the public can’t afford to put up with this farce of a Government a minute longer. Today we should be talking about the Tory cost-of-living crisis, soaring inflation and the growing cost of Brexit. But, instead, it’s always about him.

“How many more ministers need to quit before he finally picks up his pen and writes his own resignation letter?”

The Prime Minister said he thought the question was “excellent when he was talking about the economy because that is the issue that the country faces”.

He added: “That is where this Government is introducing, I think, the most important (solutions), helping… families up and down the country with £1,200 going into their bank accounts right now, cutting taxes for 30 million people, £330 tax cut, and helping half a million people into work through the way to work scheme.

“That is a fantastic thing to be getting on and doing. That is the priority of this Government and that’s what I’m going to focus on. I’m glad he likes it.”

Mr Blackford said: “My goodness, nothing to see, we should all move on if we live in the world of the Prime Minister.”

12.37pm

The Prime Minister dismissed a question over reports that he wanted to build an expensive treehouse in the grounds of Chequers as “fantasy”.

Labour MP Matt Western (Warwick and Leamington) stressed that public-sector workers like teachers and nurses were struggling on current salaries.

He said: “They, and indeed working people everywhere, are struggling to pay their rents and their mortgages. Given they can barely afford a £150,000 mortgage on a new home, can he tell this House how he can afford a £150,000 treehouse?”

Mr Johnson replied: “What I can tell him is that up and down the country, rather than talking about fantasy infrastructure, I can tell him about real infrastructure, we are helping to unite and level up the people of this country with £650 billion of investment.”

12.36pm

Mr Johnson told MPs his job is to “keep going” after a Conservative backbencher asked in what circumstances he would resign.

Conservative former minister Tim Loughton asked: “Does the Prime Minister think there are any circumstances in which he should resign?”

The Prime Minister replied: “Clearly if there were circumstances in which I felt it was impossible for the Government to go on and discharge the mandate we have been given, or if I felt, for instance, we are being frustrated in our desire to support the Ukrainian people, or over some related point, then I would.

“But frankly, Mr Speaker, the job of a Prime Minister in difficult circumstances when he has been handed a colossal mandate is to keep going and that is what I am going to do.”

12.34pm

Ian Blackford
Ian Blackford (House of Commons/PA)

12.33pm

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford urged Mr Johnson to call a general election if he will not resign.

Asking his second question, Mr Blackford said: “A few weeks ago I compared the Prime Minister to Monty Python’s Black Knight, actually turns out I was wrong – he’s actually the dead parrot.

“Whether he knows it or not, he’s now an ex-prime minister. But he will leave behind two deeply damaging legacies. I hope the dishonesty of his leadership follows him out of the Downing Street door.”

12.32pm

Sir Keir said: “What a pathetic spectacle, the dying act of his career is to parrot that nonsense.

“As for those who are left – only in office because no-one else is prepared to debase themselves any longer. The charge of the lightweight brigade. Have some self-respect.

“For a week he’s had them defending his decision to promote a sexual predator… anyone with anything about them would be long gone from his frontbench. In the middle of a crisis, doesn’t the country deserve better than a Z list cast of nodding dogs?”

Mr Johnson replied: “It’s exactly when times are tough and when the country faces pressures on the economy and pressures on their budgets, and when we have the biggest war in Europe for 80 years, that is exactly the moment that you’d expect a Government to continue with its work, not to walk away, and to get on with our job and to focus on the things that matter to the people of this country.”

12.28pm

Jo Churchill
Jo Churchill (UK Parliament/PA)

12.27pm

Prime Minister’s Questions
(House of Commons/PA)

12.25pm

Sir Keir said: “Awful behaviour, unacceptable in any walk of life, it’s there for all to see but he ignores it.

“It was the same when his ally was on the take from the lobbyists. It was the same when his Home Secretary was bullying staff. It was the same when taxpayers’ money was being abused and it was the same when he and his mates partied their way through lockdown.

“Anyone quitting now after defending all that hasn’t got a shred of integrity. Isn’t this the first recorded case of the sinking ships fleeing the rats?”

Mr Johnson replied: “He talks about integrity and he wanted to install the member for Islington North (Jeremy Corbyn) into Number 10… imagine what our country, what the world, would be like now.

“He voted 48 times to overturn the will of the British people and take us back into the EU.”

12.24pm

Mr Johnson told MPs: “The job of a Prime Minister in difficult circumstances when he has been handed a colossal mandate is to keep going and that’s what I’m going to do.”

12.23pm

Mr Johnson said that in “hindsight” he should have realised that Chris Pincher would have not changed.

His comments came as Sir Keir asked him: “No denial, and he says the matter was resolved when he means it was upheld.

“They’re all sitting there as if this is normal behaviour. When that young man reported his attack to a Government whip, she asked him if he was gay. When he said that he was, she replied ‘that doesn’t make it straightforward’.

“Will he apologise for those disgraceful comments on behalf of this Government?”

The Prime Minister replied: “I have already said that I regret very much that the member for Tamworth continued to hold office after the complaint was made against him in the Foreign Office, and it was resolved in the Foreign Office, his apology was accepted, but clearly that was not enough. And, in hindsight, I should have realised that he would not change.”

However, Mr Johnson insisted that when he was given the information that Sir Keir read out about the complaint that was made he “acted immediately”.

12.22pm

Labour leader Keir Starmer speaks during Prime Minister’s Questions
Labour leader Keir Starmer speaks during Prime Minister’s Questions (House of Commons/PA)

12.19pm

The Labour leader asked: “None of that explains why he promoted him in the first place. And we have heard it all before. We know who he really is. Before he was found out, he has reported to have said, ‘he is handsy. That’s the problem. Pincher by name, pincher by nature’.

“Now, has the Prime Minister ever said words to that effect? And I’m not asking for bluster and half-truth. We’ve all had enough of that. Yes or no?”

The Prime Minister replied: “I am not going to trivialise what happened. Yes, because the very serious complaints have been raised against the member for Tamworth, and they’re now being investigated. It is true. It is true that the complaint was raised when he was in the Foreign Office and the matter was resolved. It is absolutely true.

“It’s absolutely true that it was raised with me. I greatly regret that he continued in office, and I have said that. I have said that before. I have said that before, but it is now a subject of an independent investigation, and that is the right thing.”

12.18pm

12.14pm

Opening Prime Minister’s questions, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer read out the testimony of a man who accused a Conservative former minister of sexual assault.

After reading out the evidence of the man who accused Tamworth MP Christopher Pincher of assault, Sir Keir said: “I accept that is not easy listening, but it is a reminder to all those propping up this Prime Minister just how serious this situation is.

“He knew the accused minister had previously committed predatory behaviour but he promoted him to a position of power anyway. Why?”

Mr Johnson replied that Mr Pincher no longer had his Government job or the Conservative whip.

The Prime Minister added: “I want to say to him that I abhor bullying and abuse of power anywhere in Parliament, in this party or in any other party.”

12.12pm

Mick Whelan, general secretary of the train drivers’ union Aslef, said: “It is clear to even the most fervent fan of Boris Johnson, as it has been clear to many of us for years, that there is a moral vacuum at the heart of Government.

“With even previously loyal ministers deserting the sinking ship, it is time for the Prime Minister to do the right thing and step down. Not so much for the party – which is uppermost in the minds of most of those Tory MPs who have called on him to – but for the country.

“Nadhim Zahawi and Steve Barclay should be careful, as they accept promotion by a discredited PM, revealed as a serial liar, that they do not get tarnished by the Boris Johnson brush.”

12.10pm

Ms Churchill said in her resignation letter to the Prime Minister: “Recent events have shown integrity, competence, and judgment are all essential to the role of Prime Minister, while a jocular self-serving approach is bound to have its limitations.

“Our beloved country is facing an uncertain future and strong headwinds, a clear, self-less vision is needed. The country and party deserve better and so with a heavy heart I have decided to resign.”

12.09pm

12.08pm

Jo Churchill has resigned as a minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

In a tweet she said: “It is with a heavy heart that I have this morning tendered my resignation to the Prime Minister. I will not be doing media interviews on this matter.”

12.07pm

12.01pm

Boris Johnson has arrived in the Commons chamber for Prime Minister’s Questions.

11.51am

POLITICS Johnson
(PA Graphics)

11.50am

Robin Walker said he fears Mr Johnson has become a “distraction” from the Government delivering on its priorities.

He told Times Radio: “I want, absolutely, (the) Conservative government to be able to deliver on the priorities for which we were elected, but I fear that, sadly, Boris Johnson has now become a distraction from that.

“I do think we now need to move forward and find a new leader who can bring the party together and deliver on those key priorities that I think the public really want to see us focusing on.”

11.49am

In her letter of resignation, MP for Louth and Horncastle Victoria Atkins said: “It is with sadness and regret that I resign as Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice.

“Values such as integrity, decency, respect and professionalism should matter to us all. I have watched with growing concern as those values have fractured under your leadership, through Paterson, partygate and Pincher. I have given you the benefit of the doubt at each turn, out of loyalty to you as Prime Minister and to our great party.

“The events of this week, however, have made these contortions impossible. The casual mistreatment of Minister Will Quince and the revelations contained in Lord McDonald’s letter highlight just how far your government has fallen from these ideals. I can no longer pirouette around our fractured values. We can and must be better than this.

“This is at a time when our constituents face grave cost-of-living pressures not experienced for decades. These challenges demand resolute focus and we must take the country with us. We cannot provide that focus at present.”

11.46am

Prime Minister’s Questions
Boris Johnson leaves Downing Street on Wednesday morning (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

11.44am

Robin Walker said it would be “sensible” for Mr Johnson to quit today after his own resignation as schools minister.

Asked what prompted him to step down, he said the departures of Mr Sunak and Mr Javid were “the straw that broke the camel’s back”.

He told Times Radio: “I think there’s been a hope for a long time that when the Prime Minister has said repeatedly that he was making changes at No 10, he was seeking to change the culture and move forward and focus on the people’s priorities, I like many others wanted to give him the opportunity to do that.

“But I think what we’ve seen is week after week, month after month, the revelations and the approach of decisions that have been made at the centre, and the way in which they’ve been made, have been undermining good colleagues who wants to deliver on those priorities.

“I think, for me, the resignations of Sajid and Rishi this week really were the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

Asked if the Prime Minister should quit today, he said: “I think that would be the sensible thing to do.”

11.42am

Victoria Atkins
Victoria Atkins (David Parry/PA)

11.37am

Victoria Atkins has resigned as a justice minister, telling Boris Johnson “I can no longer pirouette around our fractured values” and “we can and must be better than this”.

11.30am

Ipswich Conservative MP Tom Hunt has submitted a letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister and called for him to resign, saying “events of the past week have been the straw that has broken the camel’s back”.

“I have come to the conclusion, like a large number of my colleagues, that it’s in the best interests of my constituents, the country and the Conservative Party for the Prime Minister to step down,” he said in a statement posted to Facebook.

“A continuation of the status quo cannot continue and, regretfully, I believe that the Prime Minister’s tenure in office has run its course. Up until now I’ve continued to support the Prime Minister… however, events of the past week have been the straw that has broken the camel’s back.

“In a sense, one of the worst things about the revelations at the Carlton Club last week was how unsurprising they were to many colleagues. I personally find it hard to believe that the Prime Minister wasn’t aware of the extent of concerns about the former deputy chief whip.

“I strongly believe that the situation which occurred last week could have been avoided and I also think that the handling of it subsequently was deeply disappointing.

“I foresee things descending to new depths and I do not think that under the Prime Minister’s leadership it will be possible to unite the Conservative Parliamentary Party and give us the best chance possible of winning the next general election.

“There is no good in blaming sections of the media for the situation we find ourselves in. They’ve been giving the ammunition time and time again.”

11.25am

Lord Gavin Barwell said the departure of Mr Javid and Mr Sunak from the Cabinet will lead to more Conservatives losing faith in the Prime Minister.

The former chief of staff to Theresa May said he believed Mr Johnson could be gone by the summer, adding that the upcoming elections to the 1922 Committee may lead to a second vote of confidence before recess.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We’ve seen some further junior resignations this morning, we may soon be getting to a point where the Prime Minister is not going to be able to fill all the spots within the Government.

“I suspect what we will see is that the elections for the executive, the 1922 Committee, will give a majority to his opponents, they will change the rules and we may well have a ballot shortly before the summer recess.

“I find it very hard to believe that the resignation of two such senior ministers, who’ve clearly changed their minds since the confidence vote, isn’t going to lead to a significant number of MPs having changed their mind.”

11.23am

In her letter of resignation, Kensington MP Felicity Buchan said: “It is with great sadness that I tender my resignation as Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

“It has been a huge honour to have served in this department at a time when energy security and the transition to net zero are so critical.

“However, I am afraid that you have lost the confidence of my constituents and me. The current situation is untenable.

“I believe passionately in Conservative values and want to ensure that we are implementing Conservative policies without distractions. That requires fresh leadership and it requires a new vision for the country. That vision must be a country of low taxes and high growth; we must be the party of aspiration.”

Felicity Buchan
Felicity Buchan (UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/PA)

11.22am

In his letter of resignation, Treasury minister John Glen, the Tory MP for Salisbury, said Mr Johnson’s “poor judgement” made it “impossible for me to square continued service with my conscience”.

“After much thought and with deep regret I must inform you that I have made the difficult decision to resign from the government,” he wrote.

“It has been a great privilege to serve as Economic Secretary to the Treasury under three Chancellors, but I can no longer reconcile my commitment to the role and to the financial services sector with the complete lack of confidence I have in your continuing leadership of our country.

“Recent events concerning the handling of the appointment of the former Deputy Chief Whip, and the poor judgement you have shown, have made it impossible for me to square continued service with my conscience.

“The country deserves better, and I must return to the backbenches to dedicate myself to the service of the people of Salisbury and South Wiltshire.”

11.20am

11.17am

11.15am

Tory peer and pollster Lord Hayward said there is “absolutely no doubt” Boris Johnson has lost his “curious” attachment to the public.

He told Sky News: “I think this whole row is damaging the Conservative Party very badly.

“I’m not a great fan of snap polls, but YouGov’s poll overnight is absolutely clear – 54% of people who voted Conservative in 2019 are saying that Boris Johnson should go and just over 20% are saying he should stay.

“So there is absolutely no doubt that Boris Johnson, who had this curious built-in attachment to the public at large, has lost that link and lost it very clearly indeed.”

11.14am

Kensington MP Felicity Buchan has resigned from her role as parliamentary private secretary to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

In a letter posted to Twitter, she said “the current situation is untenable”.

11.11am

Treasury minister John Glen has resigned, telling Mr Johnson “I can no longer reconcile my commitment to the role” with “the complete lack of confidence I have in your continuing leadership of our country”.

John Glen
John Glen (UK Parliament/PA)

10.56am

(PA Graphics)
(PA Graphics)

10.41am

New Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi called for unity in the Conservative Party.

10.39am

Sir David Lidington added that the Government is at risk of losing the support of the electorate following the latest issues faced by the Conservative Party.

The former Cabinet Office minister told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The problem with the impact of partygate, Pincher and so on, people stop me in the high street and actually say they’ve always been Conservative voters but they no longer feel that the Government speaks for them.

“It’s thinking about the interests of people in the Government, and in-fighting, not about putting the country first.

“I think the credibility of the Government has been much more seriously and deeply damaged than some of the people around the Prime Minister in No 10 seem to think at the moment.”

10.25am

Downing Street turmoil
Former health secretary Sajid Javid leaves his home in south-west London on Wednesday morning (Beresford Hodge/PA)

10.18am

Lee Anderson, the Tory MP elected in 2019 for the Red Wall seat of Ashfield, questioned the Prime Minister’s integrity as he withdrew support for Mr Johnson.

“I have remained loyal to the Prime Minister since being elected in 2019,” he said.

“However my position has changed over the past few days since the incident which led to the deputy chief whip (Chris Pincher) losing the party whip.”

He said giving Mr Pincher the job, having been told about earlier inappropriate behaviour, was “not a good appointment” by Mr Johnson.

He highlighted the initial denial that the Prime Minister had been told about earlier allegations and then the change in the Government’s position to say Mr Johnson simply forgot.

“I cannot look myself in the mirror and accept this. It is my belief that our PM has got all the big decisions right and guided us through the most difficult time in my life time and I have always backed him to the hilt.

“That said, integrity should always come first and sadly this has not been the case over the past few days.”