No 10 source calls Gove 'snake' after PM sacks him
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Michael Gove - the now former Levelling Up secretary - called on Johnson
to resign earlier today.
A No 10 source said: "You can't have a snake who is not with you on
any of the big arguments who then gleefully tells the press the leader has to
go."
The PM is understood to have rung Gove in the last 15 minutes to tell him he was sacked.
BreakingBoris Johnson sacks Michael Gove
The prime minister has sacked Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary, Michael Gove.
Johnson loyalist '100% behind PM'
Lia Nici won the seat of Great Grimsby for the Conservatives in 2019, after Labour had held it for 74 years. She is now Boris Johnson's parliamentary private secretary and is remaining loyal to the PM.
She has told BBC Look North the prime minister won an electoral mandate - an 80-seat majority - and is vital for places like Grimsby.
Nici says she backs his levelling up agenda and has 100% confidence in the PM. She argues some Tory MPs are being disloyal after "trial by media", and claims the majority of people in the country support Johnson.
Red wall MP Jacob Young resigns as PPS
Jacob Young, the MP for Redcar - and the first Conservative to ever hold
that seat which he won in the 2019 general election - has just resigned as
housing and local government parliamentary private secretary.
He says: "I have agonised throughout today - I have supported the prime
minister through thick and thin. It’s because of my loyalty to him, that I urge
him to now step aside and allow the country to move forward."
SNP leader Ian Blackford says it is time for Boris Johnson to goImage caption: SNP leader Ian Blackford says it is time for Boris Johnson to go
SNP leader Ian Blackford, and a frequent critic of the PM, tells the BBC that Boris Johnson is "besmirching our democracy" by his refusal to resign as prime minister.
He says: "He has lost the confidence of the House of Commons, he has lost the confidence of his own MPs and a number of cabinet ministers have gone and told him to go.
"At the end of the day, if he doesn't do the decent thing, he ought to have some self respect and some diginity and realise for him it is over. He is now besmirching our democracy and if he doesn't do the right thing and go of his own accord then he'll be dragged out."
Boris Johnson wants to fight on
The mood music at Downing Street has changed somewhat over the past hour, says BBC political correspondent Iain Watson.
He says there remains a great deal of disharmony inside No 10 - with some cabinet ministers urging the PM to go and others standing by him as he vows to stay on as leader.
Grant Shapps and Priti Patel - previously staunch allies of the PM - both believe Boris Johnson's time is up and he should resign.
But Nadine Dorries remains a supporter of the PM - and indicated on her departure from Downing Street this evening, that many other colleagues do too.
"Boris Johnson wants to continue to fight. He believes he has enough people around him to keep going."
Who still supports the PM?
As we've been reporting the prime minister is refusing to resign and vowing to stay on to govern.
Home Secretary Priti Patel is the most recent minister to join the ranks of her cabinet colleagues urging the PM to resign.
So who haven't we heard from this evening among the government heavyweights?
Liz Truss, foreign secretary
Earlier it was reported that Foreign Secretary Liz Truss does not think this is the time to quit - with the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Northern Ireland Protocol going through Parliament.
The Guardian's chief political correspondent is now reporting that she is "sticking by the PM".
Meanwhile, the Daily Express and the Sun reported overnight that Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had referred to the recent slew of resignations as "political parlour games" adding he would not be resigning.
Both Truss and Wallace are considered key contenders for the leadership if Johnson is pushed out - or walks.
Dominic Raab, deputy prime minister
Nothing has been heard directly from deputy prime minister Dominic Raab, who was last heard defending the prime minister over the Chris Pincher affair on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday morning.
But it was reported that he remains loyal to Mr Johnson and defended him at a session of the backbench 1922 Committee.
Northern Ireland secretary heckled on flight
Chris Mason
Political editor
Brandon Lewis, I'm told, heckled by a fellow passenger on a flight from Belfast to London tonight. The passenger told him: "You are complicit in the betrayal of this country by Boris Johnson."
Correction: Brandon Lewis has not resigned
Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland Secretary, has not resigned.
We reported this here earlier but this was not correct.
Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid remain the only members of cabinet to have stepped down.
Fifth of parliamentary party turns against PM
Based on the latest figures, 21% of the Conservatives' 358 MPs - 75 of them - have now switched from supportive or neutral to opposed to the PM's leadership since yesterday, the BBC's Political Research Unit has calculated.
Boris Johnson won last month's confidence vote among Tory MPs - by 211 to 148. But some of these switchers may have voted against him in that anonymous ballot, so they can't just be added to the 148.
Shapps tells PM he will not win second vote
Nick Eardley
Political correspondent, BBC News
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is said to have told the PM he stands little chance of commanding a majority of the parliamentary party in a second confidence vote.
He's understood to have advised Boris Johnson a more dignified exit would involve him setting his own timetable for an early but orderly departure.
BreakingBoris Johnson refusing to quit
We're hearing that the PM is holding firm and refusing to quit despite calls from several key cabinet colleagues for him to go.
He is insisting that he wants to continue to focus on the "hugely important issues facing the country".
A record 14 ministers resign in one day
Our political research unit says a record 14 ministers have resigned in a single day today, more than have ever quit in a single day before.
The previous record was 11 ministers in 1932.
Johnson won't quit and pledges to fight - reports
Boris Johnson has said he won't quit, claiming
it would cause chaos if he did, reports the Daily Mail's political editor Jason
Groves. And The Sun's political editor Harry Cole is hearing the same sentiment
from one cabinet minister - and another reshuffle could be in the offing...
"Sources tell me he told Cabinet colleagues that it was a choice between summer focused on economic growth or chaos of a leadership contest - followed by massive pressure for general election," she writes.
Asthana says she's been told the PM put his 14 million votes at the last general election on the table - and that those around him "think they will lose a couple more from cabinet but not all".
Dorries leaves Downing Street
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries is the latest cabinet minister to be seen walking out of that famous black door this evening. It's thought she has given her support to the PM.
BBCCopyright: BBC
WATCH: No reason to call early election, says Johnson
Video content
Video caption: No reason to call early election - Boris JohnsonNo reason to call early election - Boris Johnson
In a heated exchange with members of the Liaison Committee earlier this afternoon, Boris Johnson ruled out calling a general election but only after repeated questions from MPs.
On dissolving parliament, he said: "Of course I rule it out. The earliest date that I can see for a general election is two years from now."
What's happening now?
The prime minister's future is extremely uncertain. Here's a quick recap.
A group of cabinet ministers is in 10 Downing Street telling Boris Johnson that he should stand down as PM
We understand the group includes Home Secretary Priti Patel, newly-appointed Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and Grant Shapps - though he was seen leaving the building a short while ago
A separate group of supporters, including Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries and Brexit opportunities minister Jacob Rees-Mogg, is also believed to be there, professing support for him to stay in the role
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson has been holding his "entirely normal, weekly audience with the Queen" by telephone, reports our political editor Chris Mason, and is sounding bullish about fighting on despite the pressure
It follows the resignations of 38 ministers and aides since yesterday evening, when Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid stepped down
More and more Tories have lost confidence in PM, Douglas Ross says
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, says "more and
more" of his colleagues now agree with him and think Boris Johnson should
resign.
Ross says: "I said that, at the no confidence vote two or three
weeks ago that I could not in good faith continue to have confidence in
him".
He adds "now we are seeing more and more colleagues have reached
the same conclusion".
Ross did not say
who he would support in a Tory leadership election.
Live Reporting
Edited by Francesca Gillett
All times stated are UK
No 10 source calls Gove 'snake' after PM sacks him
Michael Gove - the now former Levelling Up secretary - called on Johnson to resign earlier today.
A No 10 source said: "You can't have a snake who is not with you on any of the big arguments who then gleefully tells the press the leader has to go."
The PM is understood to have rung Gove in the last 15 minutes to tell him he was sacked.
BreakingBoris Johnson sacks Michael Gove
The prime minister has sacked Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary, Michael Gove.
Johnson loyalist '100% behind PM'
Lia Nici won the seat of Great Grimsby for the Conservatives in 2019, after Labour had held it for 74 years. She is now Boris Johnson's parliamentary private secretary and is remaining loyal to the PM.
She has told BBC Look North the prime minister won an electoral mandate - an 80-seat majority - and is vital for places like Grimsby.
Nici says she backs his levelling up agenda and has 100% confidence in the PM. She argues some Tory MPs are being disloyal after "trial by media", and claims the majority of people in the country support Johnson.
Red wall MP Jacob Young resigns as PPS
Jacob Young, the MP for Redcar - and the first Conservative to ever hold that seat which he won in the 2019 general election - has just resigned as housing and local government parliamentary private secretary.
He says: "I have agonised throughout today - I have supported the prime minister through thick and thin. It’s because of my loyalty to him, that I urge him to now step aside and allow the country to move forward."
Could Johnson become a lame duck PM?
Video content
What would happen if Boris Johnson resigned as Conservative Party leader but not as prime minister?
On tonight's Newscast, the BBC's political editor, Chris Mason talks us through what a Johnson resignation could look like.
Listen to the full podcast here
Johnson is 'besmirching our democracy'
SNP leader Ian Blackford, and a frequent critic of the PM, tells the BBC that Boris Johnson is "besmirching our democracy" by his refusal to resign as prime minister.
He says: "He has lost the confidence of the House of Commons, he has lost the confidence of his own MPs and a number of cabinet ministers have gone and told him to go.
"At the end of the day, if he doesn't do the decent thing, he ought to have some self respect and some diginity and realise for him it is over. He is now besmirching our democracy and if he doesn't do the right thing and go of his own accord then he'll be dragged out."
Boris Johnson wants to fight on
The mood music at Downing Street has changed somewhat over the past hour, says BBC political correspondent Iain Watson.
He says there remains a great deal of disharmony inside No 10 - with some cabinet ministers urging the PM to go and others standing by him as he vows to stay on as leader.
Grant Shapps and Priti Patel - previously staunch allies of the PM - both believe Boris Johnson's time is up and he should resign.
But Nadine Dorries remains a supporter of the PM - and indicated on her departure from Downing Street this evening, that many other colleagues do too.
"Boris Johnson wants to continue to fight. He believes he has enough people around him to keep going."
Who still supports the PM?
As we've been reporting the prime minister is refusing to resign and vowing to stay on to govern.
Home Secretary Priti Patel is the most recent minister to join the ranks of her cabinet colleagues urging the PM to resign.
So who haven't we heard from this evening among the government heavyweights?
Liz Truss, foreign secretary
Earlier it was reported that Foreign Secretary Liz Truss does not think this is the time to quit - with the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Northern Ireland Protocol going through Parliament.
The Guardian's chief political correspondent is now reporting that she is "sticking by the PM".
Ben Wallace, defence secretary
Meanwhile, the Daily Express and the Sun reported overnight that Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had referred to the recent slew of resignations as "political parlour games" adding he would not be resigning.
Both Truss and Wallace are considered key contenders for the leadership if Johnson is pushed out - or walks.
Dominic Raab, deputy prime minister
Nothing has been heard directly from deputy prime minister Dominic Raab, who was last heard defending the prime minister over the Chris Pincher affair on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday morning.
But it was reported that he remains loyal to Mr Johnson and defended him at a session of the backbench 1922 Committee.
Northern Ireland secretary heckled on flight
Chris Mason
Political editor
Brandon Lewis, I'm told, heckled by a fellow passenger on a flight from Belfast to London tonight. The passenger told him: "You are complicit in the betrayal of this country by Boris Johnson."
Correction: Brandon Lewis has not resigned
Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland Secretary, has not resigned.
We reported this here earlier but this was not correct.
Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid remain the only members of cabinet to have stepped down.
Fifth of parliamentary party turns against PM
Based on the latest figures, 21% of the Conservatives' 358 MPs - 75 of them - have now switched from supportive or neutral to opposed to the PM's leadership since yesterday, the BBC's Political Research Unit has calculated.
Boris Johnson won last month's confidence vote among Tory MPs - by 211 to 148. But some of these switchers may have voted against him in that anonymous ballot, so they can't just be added to the 148.
Shapps tells PM he will not win second vote
Nick Eardley
Political correspondent, BBC News
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is said to have told the PM he stands little chance of commanding a majority of the parliamentary party in a second confidence vote.
He's understood to have advised Boris Johnson a more dignified exit would involve him setting his own timetable for an early but orderly departure.
BreakingBoris Johnson refusing to quit
We're hearing that the PM is holding firm and refusing to quit despite calls from several key cabinet colleagues for him to go.
He is insisting that he wants to continue to focus on the "hugely important issues facing the country".
A record 14 ministers resign in one day
Our political research unit says a record 14 ministers have resigned in a single day today, more than have ever quit in a single day before.
The previous record was 11 ministers in 1932.
Johnson won't quit and pledges to fight - reports
Boris Johnson has said he won't quit, claiming it would cause chaos if he did, reports the Daily Mail's political editor Jason Groves. And The Sun's political editor Harry Cole is hearing the same sentiment from one cabinet minister - and another reshuffle could be in the offing...
PM 'absolutely defiant' and won't resign - report
ITV's deputy political editor Anushka Asthana tweets that she's been told the PM is "absolutely defiant and is not going to resign".
"Sources tell me he told Cabinet colleagues that it was a choice between summer focused on economic growth or chaos of a leadership contest - followed by massive pressure for general election," she writes.
Asthana says she's been told the PM put his 14 million votes at the last general election on the table - and that those around him "think they will lose a couple more from cabinet but not all".
Dorries leaves Downing Street
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries is the latest cabinet minister to be seen walking out of that famous black door this evening. It's thought she has given her support to the PM.
WATCH: No reason to call early election, says Johnson
Video content
In a heated exchange with members of the Liaison Committee earlier this afternoon, Boris Johnson ruled out calling a general election but only after repeated questions from MPs.
On dissolving parliament, he said: "Of course I rule it out. The earliest date that I can see for a general election is two years from now."
What's happening now?
The prime minister's future is extremely uncertain. Here's a quick recap.
More and more Tories have lost confidence in PM, Douglas Ross says
Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, says "more and more" of his colleagues now agree with him and think Boris Johnson should resign.
Ross says: "I said that, at the no confidence vote two or three weeks ago that I could not in good faith continue to have confidence in him".
He adds "now we are seeing more and more colleagues have reached the same conclusion".
Ross did not say who he would support in a Tory leadership election.