Boris Johnson faced a fresh wave of resignations today as a Tory MP who was forced to defend him on the radio just 48 hours ago headed out the door.
Children's Minister Will Quince handed in his resignation this morning just as the Prime Minister was battling to shore up his Cabinet after Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid quit.
In a damning letter he wrote: "It is with great sadness and regret that I feel I have no choice but to tender my resignation as Minister for Children and Families".
He said he had been given "inaccurate" briefings by Downing Street when he was sent out on a broadcast round of interviews on Monday morning.
Mr Quince said he had been "categorically" assured Boris Johnson did not know of any specific complaints about Chris Pincher before making the "grope" accused MP Deputy Chief Whip. This assurance was untrue because the PM was told in 2020 of a full formal complaint that was upheld.
It was the second resignation to hit Boris Johnson before 8.30am as another rising star, Laura Trott, also resigned as parliamentary private secretary to the Secretary of State for Transport. Then there was a third as schools minister Robin Walker resigned.
And respected back bencher Robert Halfon turned on the Prime Minister, saying he would now vote him out of office - just weeks after backing him in the confidence vote.
Former minister and Education Committee chairman Mr Halfon said: "I feel that the public have been misled about the appointment of the former Deputy Chief Whip.
"The parties at Number 10 Downing Street were bad enough, but the appointment of this individual and the untruthful statements about what was known, is unacceptable to me.
"I gave the Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt before... I can't bring myself to do this again and refuse to do so."
He added: "Government is not working for most people, whether it is GP services or getting a Passport. Millions are still struggling with the cost of living. Much policy delivery is a mirage. There is little trust in the Prime Minister. For this reason, if there is a vote for a change in leadership, I will now vote for that change."
She said in a Facebook post: "Trust in politics is - and must always be - of the upmost importance, but sadly in recent months this has been lost.
"Thank you to all of you who have written to me expressing your views. I have read them carefully, and taken them into consideration as part of my decision.
"I have, and will always, put the residents of Sevenoaks and Swanley front and centre of my work in Westminster."
Junior minister Mr Quince was humiliated on Monday after he was “categorically assured” by the No10 press office that the PM was not aware of complaints against Mr Pincher.
He told Sky News: “I anticipated this question, I spoke to Number 10, both yesterday and this morning, and I asked firmly and clearly for an explanation as to what had happened.
“And I have been given a categorical assurance that the Prime Minister was not aware of any specific allegation or complaint made against the former deputy chief whip."
Three top ministers - Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Health Secretary Sajid Javid and Solicitor General Alex Chalk - all resigned last night.
The vast majority of the Cabinet then publicly swung behind the PM within minutes but he was rocked by other MPs turning in the lower rungs - weeks after 41% of Tories voted to boot him out.
Julian Knight, Anthony Browne and Andrew Murrison all declared against the Prime Minister after staying ambiguous in the no confidence vote in June.
Even some of those who had been loyal, like Sally-Ann Hart and Jonathan Gullis, threw in the towel.
That leaves the PM vulnerable after elections to the 1922 Committee executive next Wednesday - which could change the rules to hold another no confidence vote sooner than the current June 2023 cut-off.
Tory rebel Andrew Bridgen, one of those pushing to change the rules, told the BBC: "It's time for Big Dog to go to a farm and never be seen again".
Ex-Tory leader William Hague said Tory MPs are “reading the last rites” to Boris Johnson and will now unite to get rid of him.
He told Times Radio: “I think it’s over. It’s reading the last rites - slowly, unfortunately… Boris still isn’t accepting that this really is over, but it is.”
Mr Hague said the weight of opposition was now enough that Boris Johnson will be forced from office - even if it takes several months.
While last month individual MPs were weighting up their positions, now “the Conservative Party is going to turn its collective mind as to how to prise Boris Johnson out of 10 Downing Street,” he said.
He said wanting to get rid of Boris Johnson is now the view of the "majority" of MPs and Tory activists who "can't stomach it any more" - weeks after 41% of Tory MPs already voted to oust him.
