Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis quit swiftly followed by Treasury minister Helen Whately, Security Minister Damian Hinds and Science Minister George Freeman.
Mr Lewis said: “A decent and responsible Government relies on honesty, integrity and mutual respect. It is a matter of profound personal regret that I must leave Government as I no longer believe those values are being upheld.”
Ms Whately said there “are only so many times you can apologise and move on”, while Mr Hinds said: “It shouldn’t take the resignation of dozens of colleagues, but for our country, and trust in our democracy, we must have a change of leadership.”
His departure comes after the resignation of Welsh Secretary Simon Hart on Wednesday, and Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid on Tuesday. Party chairman Oliver Down stepped down on June 24.
Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, spoke to Mr Johnson on Wednesday to set out the level of backbench opposition. A new executive for the committee will be elected on Monday which could change the leadership rules.
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Work and pensions minister steps down
Guy Opperman, a minister at the Department for Work and Pensions, has resigned.
He wrote: “ It has been a honour, and a great responsibility, to serve as a minister, but we need leadership change, and I have resigned.
“I will continue to work for my constituents in Hexham from the backbenches.”
Matt Hancock says it’s ‘time for the PM to resign’
Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock has called on Boris Johnson to resign.
He told the BBC: “With great sadness it’s time for the PM to go.
“Unfortunately he’s lost the confidence of his Cabinet and the parliamentary party. It’s time to stand down.
“There isn’t the support for him even in his own Cabinet for him to continue.”
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Daily politics briefing: July 7
Tory MP says Boris is ‘taking the piss’
The Conservative MP Mark Logan delivered a blunt message to Boris Johnson on Thursday morning, telling him “you’re taking the piss now…#go”, David Bond writes.
Mr Logan quit as a Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Northern Ireland Office, on Wednesday afternoon, telling the Prime Minister that his constituents “deserve more from leadership”.
He was the second PPS from the Northern Ireland Office to resign with Jonathan Gullis also quitting.
On Thursday morning their boss Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland Secretary, became one of the biggest Cabinet figures to walk out over Mr Johnson’s leadership.
Ex-Brexit minister warns ‘business of govt can’t continue’ unless PM resigns
Former Brexit negotiator Lord Frost has said that Boris Johnson cannot remain in Downing Street “because the business of government cannot continue”.
Lord Frost suggested he should not even be allowed to remain as a caretaker Prime Minister, if and when he steps down.
As the Prime Minister was hit by further resignations on Thursday morning, Lord Frost tweeted: “The Prime Minister cannot continue because the business of government cannot continue & because it is clear that he is not supported by his party in Parliament.
“I hoped he might have reflected overnight and come to realise that.
“If the PM insists on fighting this out then he will cause serious damage to the party and Government, and destroy his place in history.
“If he insists on waiting until another vote of MPs then the 1922 Exec should meet and facilitate one more quickly than planned.”
Urging Cabinet ministers to quit, he said: “He cannot now credibly be a caretaker Prime Minister while a leadership election is taking place. We have a Deputy PM who can straightforwardly fulfil that role and he should.”
Science minister expresses no confidence in PM
Science Minister George Freeman has expressed no confidence in Boris Johnson, saying the current chaos “can’t go on”.
He wrote: “The chaos in No10, the breakdown of Cabinet collective responsibility, the abandonment of the Ministerial code, the defence of impropriety & defiance of Parliament are all insults to the Conservatism I believe in and stand for.”
Security minister Damian Hinds resigns
Security minister Damian Hinds has resigned from the Government.
In a resignation letter posted on Twitter, he wrote: “ It has been a huge privilege and responsibility to serve as security minister.
“It shouldn’t take the resignation of dozens of colleagues, but for our country, and trust in our democracy, we must have a change of leadership.”
Chief whip enters No10
Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris was seen entering No10 at around 7am on Thursday, after reportedly having warned Boris Johnson about the scale of the revolt against him.
‘I gave you the benefit of the doubt’, departing minister tells PM
Brandon Lewis told the Prime Minister in a resignation letter that he had “given you, and those around you, the benefit of the doubt”.
“I have gone out and defended this Government both publicly and privately,” the Northern Ireland Secretary told Boris Johnson in his resignation letter.
“We are, however, now past the point of no return. I cannot sacrifice my personal integrity to defend things as they stand now. It is clear that our Party, parliamentary colleagues, volunteers and the whole country, deserve better.”
Ex-chief whip accuses PM of ‘Trumpian’ tactics
Boris Johnson has been accused of “Trumpian” tactics after refusing to step down following a string of ministerial resignations.
Julian Smith, the ex-Tory chief whip, said the PM had “obviously looked across the water at what Trump did last year and decided that he wants to have some mini version in the UK and that’s very dangerous”.
He told the BBC that Mr Johnson was “holding out in a Trumpian style” – risking a constitutional crisis.
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