Boris Johnson clings to power despite Tory revolt

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has refused to quit despite more than 40 government resignations.

Last night Johnson defied predictions that he would be forced to resign, instead choosing to sack Michael Gove who was reported to be part of a coordinated attempt to remove him.

Meanwhile, Suella Braverman, the Attorney General for England and Wales, has put her name forward to replace Johnson.

This morning, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis and Helen Whately became the latest ministerial resignations.

Johnson now has the dubious distinction of having more members of his government resign in a single day than any other prime minister in history.

During a grilling in the Commons’ Liaison Committee yesterday, the Prime Minister said: “I look at the issues that this country faces, I look at the pressures people are under and the need for government to focus on their priorities, which is what we are doing; I look at the biggest war in Europe for 80 years and I cannot for the life of me see how it is responsible just to walk away from that.”

A number of Cabinet ministers were seen entering and leaving Downing Street last night, with the PM understood to have met each in turn.

James Duddridge MP, the PM’s parliamentary aide, said: “He’s listened, but he’s up for a fight.”

In a separate development, the Prime Minister wrote to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, refusing her request for a second independence referendum.

Sharing the letter on Twitter, Sturgeon questioned whether it would be “one of his last acts as PM”, adding: “To be clear, Scotland will have the opportunity to choose independence - I hope in a referendum on 19 October 2023 but, if not, through a general election. Scottish democracy will not be a prisoner of this or any PM.”