Priti Patel has told Boris Johnson he has lost the support of Tory MPs during crisis talks in Downing Street.
Speaking to Mr Johnson in Downing Street on Wednesday night, the home secretary expressed the overwhelming view of the Tory parliamentary party that his time at No 10 is up.
Although she has long been loyal to the prime minister, Ms Patel joined several cabinet colleagues who gathered in Downing Street to tell Mr Johnson she could not continue.
Other ministers present included Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, Chris Heaton Harris, the chief secretary, Simon Hart, the Welsh secretary, and Nadhim Zahawi, whom Mr Johnson appointed chancellor on Tuesday following the resignation of Rishi Sunak.
The Independent understands that ministers have gone to meet the prime minister one by one to outline their views, with the home secretary telling him he has lost the support of his MPs.
Mr Johnson appointed Ms Patel as home secretary on his first day in office and she has remained in the post ever since. The couple maintains an image of unity and avoids public disputes.
The prime minister sided with Ms Patel when a cabinet inquiry found she had harassed staff, prompting his ethics adviser to resign in protest when Mr Johnson dismissed the inquiry’s findings.
Patel has been by Johnson’s side since day one
(AFP/Getty)
Even after losing the support of one of his most loyal ministers, Mr Johnson is understood to be insisting on staying in office.
A senior ally of the prime minister told The Independent that Mr Johnson had refused to stand down when speaking to members of his team. Speaking to the Liaison Committee earlier, the prime minister suggested it would be irresponsible for him to leave while the war in Ukraine rages.
But with his authority, the question of Mr Johnson’s departure will not go away and he could face another party leadership vote next week.
Under current Conservative Backbench Committee rules dating back to 1922, the Prime Minister cannot face another challenge within a year of her landslide victory last month.
However, the rules could be torn up if the group’s chief executive accepts a shorter waiting period when a new chief executive is elected on Monday.
Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the committee, is understood to have visited Downing Street on Wednesday to air the views of the backbenchers after a meeting in parliament dominated by MPs calling for Mr Johnson to leave.
Supporters of Mr Johnson also visited Number 10 on Wednesday. Nadine Dorries, the culture minister, said she and other cabinet ministers still supported the prime minister. Jacob Rees Mogg also pledged his support, as did Dominic Raab, the Deputy Prime Minister who defended Mr Johnson at the 1922 Committee meeting.
Mr Johnson’s leadership has been left in limbo following mass resignations in response to his handling of sexual misconduct claims against an MP he appointed as deputy chief whip.
The fuse was lit by Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak, who resigned as health secretary and chancellor respectively within minutes of each other on Tuesday night and were followed over the next day by at least 35 ministers, private secretaries and trade envoys.
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