Boris Johnson resignation latest – Rishi’s popularity SURGING among Tory MPs as favourite to replace PM
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DOZENS OF Tory MPs have thrown their support behind former Chancellor Rishi Sunak to become Prime Minister following Boris Johnson’s resignation.
Former Tory Party co-chairman Oliver Dowden is among the seven MPs who have tweeted their support of Mr Sunak’s leadership bid using the hashtag #ready4rishi.
In a statement shared on social media, he said: “Rishi is the best person to lead our country and unquestionably the best person to beat Labour. That’s why I’m backing him to be our next Prime Minister.”
Others who tweeted their support were Dr Liam Fox, Mark Harper, Paul Maynard, Sir Bob Neill, Mel Stride, and Jacob Young.
Read our Boris Johnson live blog below for the latest up-to-date news...
'It's been like a Salem witch-hunt'
Allies of Boris Johnson have claimed that he was swept out of office by a 'hysteria' gripping the party.
No10 insiders told Mail+: "The Tory party has gone totally schizo. Every so often they get a mania and that's what's happened here.
"It's been like a Salem witch-hunt or when a hysteria sweeps through a girls' school. Read herd thinking stuff.
"In the end the boss was left with no alternative but to fold the tent."
Robert Buckland appointed
Robert Buckland has been appointed as Secretary of State for Wales.
Boris to make statement at 12:30
Just 30 minutes until Boris Johnson is expected to make his statement.
He is set to come out of NO 10 at 12:30.
Douglas Ross says Boris has 'finally made the right decision'
Kit Malthouse appinted Chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster
Kit Malthouse becomes Chancellor for the Duchy of Lancaster, the most senior minister in the Cabinet Office, after the PM.
James Cleverly appointed Education Secretary
James Cleverly has been appointed Secretary of State for Education.
Greg Clark is appointed as Levelling Up Secretary
NO 10 confirm Greg Clark is appointed as Levelling Up Secretary, replacing Michael Gove, after he was sacked by Boris yesterday.
Keir Starmer reaction
Keir Starmer demands Boris goes today.
The Labour leader threatens to bring no confidence motion if Tories don't oust Boris immediately.
Boris makes 'courtesy call'
This morning he gave Her Majesty a "courtesy call" to let her know of his intention to quit.
He does not need to go to the Palace until he actually steps down.
New cabinet to be announced shortly
According to reports a new cabinet will be announced shortly.
Boris was expected to fill the positions.
Kwasi Kwarteng calls for Boris to leave sooner
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has suggested Boris Johnson should leave officer sooner and does not want the PM to stay until the autumn.
Boris Johnson 'plans to fill government vacancies'
Boris Johnson is planning to "fill government vacancies' until he leaves in October".
"The Prime Minister will shortly make new appointments to his ministerial team," a No 10 source has said.
Ben Wallace favourite to replace Boris
Snap YouGov poll of Conservative members shows Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, is the favourite to replace Boris Johnson .
Nicola Sturgeon gives her opinion
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says there will be "a widespread sense of relief that the chaos of the last few days will come to an end".
But the SNP leader questions the sustainability of Johnson staying on until the autumn.
Boris calls Queen to tell her he will RESIGN in 12pm statement
Boris Johnson today told The Queen he plans to RESIGN after a brutal Cabinet coup and flood of Tory resignations imploded his premiership.
The PM will tell the nation in an address that he is quitting and a new Tory leader will be in post by the party conference in October.
Dominic Cummings, has urged Conservatives to remove him as PM today
What is the Chris Pincher scandal?
Boris Johnson came under fire for hiring shamed Tory MP Chris Pincher — despite joking about his reputation.
The PM was claimed to have cracked gags about the MP and quipped that all the “sex pests” in the party backed him when he ran for leader.
It comes after No 10 said the PM was not aware of “unsubstantiated allegations” before hiring Pincher as Deputy Chief Whip in February.
But insiders claim that Mr Johnson told aides in 2020: “He’s handsy, that’s a problem. Pincher by name, pincher by nature.”
Ex-aide Dominic Cummings claimed the PM said the same to him.
1922 committee vice-chair says Raab should be caretaker PM
Nus Ghani, said Dominic Raab should take over from Boris Johnson immediately on an interim basis.
She told BBC's Woman's Hour he could do so this afternoon.
Johnson is set to quit as party leader today but hopes to stay as PM until autumn
Boris will stay in post until October
Mr Johnson will announce his intention to resign in an address to the nation today.
The Sun understands the PM will stay in post until October, at which point he will conduct an "orderly handover".
But some Tory MPs say they want BoJo gone sooner.
They believe Deputy PM Dominic Raab should move in to No10 until a new Conservative leader has been chosen.
A source said: "Boris Johnson has spoken to Graham Brady and agreed to stand down as party leader so that a new leader can be in place by party conference. He will remain as PM until that point."
Cabinet Office minister plays down struggles
Cabinet Office minister Michael Ellis has attempted to explain to the Commons how administration will function amid deluge of vacancies.
He has claimed "government is functioning".
Who has resigned today?
Brandon Lewis - Resigned as Northern Ireland Secretary.
Helen Whatley - Resigned as Treasury minister.
Damian Hinds - Resigned as Security minister.
George Freeman - Resigned as Science and Innovation minister.
Guy Opperman - Resigned as Pensions minister.
Chris Philp - Resigned as Technology minister.
James Cartlidge - Resigned as Courts minister
Michelle Donelan - Resigned as Education Secretary
Richard Graham - Resigned as trade envoy to the Philippines.
Fay Jones - Resigned as PPS to the Leader of the House of Commons.
Who resigned on Wednesday?
Laura Trott – Tory rising star and Transport PPS Laura Trott kicked off Wednesday's resignation marathon at 8.07am.
Will Quince – Children’s minister Will Quince followed Ms Trott with a letter sent off at 8.25am.
Robin Walker – Education minister Robin Walker quit government at 9.43am.
Felicity Buchan – Business PPS Felicity Buchan resigned at 11.05am.
John Glen – Treasury Minister John Glen resigned at 11.06am.
Vicky Atkins – Home Office Minister Victoria Atkins posted her resignation letter at 11.32am.
Jo Churchill - Environment Minister resigned just after noon.
Stuart Andrew - resigned as a Housing Minister.
Claire Coutinho - Resigned as a ministerial aide at the Treasury
Selaine Saxby - Resigned as a ministerial aide at the Treasury
David Johnston - Quit as a parliamentary private secretary to the Education Department.
Mims Davies - Quit as employment minister at 2.26pm.
Neil O'Brien, Alex Burghart, Kemi Badenoch, Lee Rowley and Julia Lopez - All ministers walked out at 2.30 in a coordinated letter with four other colleagues.
Craig Williams - Treasury PPS Craig Williams resigned at just before 3.30pm
Mark Logan - Quit as a parliamentary private secretary at 3.35.
Rachel Maclean - Quit as safeguarding minister at 3.45.
Mike Freer - Chucked in the towel as Equalities Minister at 4pm.
Peter Gibson - Resigned as a ministerial aide
Mark Fletcher - Resigned as a ministerial aide.
Sara Britcliffe - Resigned as a ministerial aide.
James Sunderland - Resigned as a ministerial aide.
Ruth Edwards - Resigned as a ministerial aide.
Jacob Young - Resigned as parliamentary private secretary.
James Daly - Resigned as parliamentary private secretary.
Danny Kruger - Resigned as parliamentary private secretary.
David Duguid - Resigned as trade envoy to Angola and Zambia.
David Mundell - Resigned as trade envoy for New Zealand.
Alex Burghart - Resigned as education minister.
Edward Argar - Resigned as health minister.
Duncan Baker - Resigned as parliamentary private secretary.
Gareth Davies - Resigned as parliamentary private secretary.
James Davies - Resigned as parliamentary private secretary.
Simon Hart - Resigned as Wales Secretary.
Liz Truss set to cut trip short
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is reportedly cutting short her trip to a G20 meeting in Indonesia and returning to London.
According to reports she will issue a statement "shortly".
Who resigned on Tuesday?
Andrew Murrison – Former trade envoy to Morocco Andrew Murrison stood down at 7pm.
Bim Afolami –Tory Party Vice Chair Bim Afolami resigned at 7.28pm.
Jonathan Gullis –Northern Ireland PPS and former ultra-loyalist to the PM Jonathan Gullis resigned at 7.48pm.
Saqib Bhatti – PPS to Mr Javid Saqib Bhatti followed his boss out the door at 7.51pm.
Nicola Richards – Transport PPS Nicola Richards resigned at 8.27pm.
Virginia Crosbie – Wales PPS Virginia Crosby said bye bye to BoJo at 8.55pm.
Theo Clarke – The trade envoy to Kenya resigned at 8.01pm.
Alex Chalk – Solicitor General and long-time waverer Alex Chalk stepped down at 10.51pm. He was the last of Tuesday night’s tidal wave of resignations.
'I will never risk losing my integrity'
Mr Javid said: “Treading the tightrope between loyalty and integrity has become impossible in recent months. I will never risk losing my integrity.”
He said “the problem starts at the top and I believe that is not going to change”.
In a message to Cabinet ministers who decided not to quit, he said: “Not doing something is an active decision. I’m deeply concerned about how the next generation will see the Conservative Party on our current course. It is incumbent on all of us to set high standards for ourselves and to take action when they are not met by others.”