Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street for Prime Minister’s Questions (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)The Prime Minister’s nightmare day started with more resignations following the shock news that chancellor Rishi Sunak and health secretary Sajid Javid had quit.
Nadhim Zahawi, the former education secretary, was parachuted in to the chancellor’s role at number 11 Downing Street, and was promptly dispatched to defend the Johnson administration on breakfast news.
As the Chris Pincher groping scandal marked a watershed moment for Boris Johnson's leadership, a stream of ministers handed in their red brief cases.
The exodus includes children’s minister William Quince and party vice chairman Bim Afolami.
For increasing numbers of Conservative politicians, poor judgment in the appointment of Pincher as deputy chief whip was just another embarrassment following Partygate, the Downing Street flat refurbishment, the Arcuri scandal and the curious case of the disappearing Times news story.
Now the vultures are circling and one newspaper this morning suggested this government was one “destined to devour itself”.
Johnson's tumultuous day also included prime minister's questions and a session before MPs on the liaison committee.
So can the PM hold on for a few more months, weeks, days - or even hours?
To make sense of an intense week full of intrigue in Westminster, The Leader podcast is joined by Evening Standard deputy political editor David Bond.
We also look at what the pollsters are saying about Johnson's popularity, or lack of it, and whether Sunak's suggestion his government was not “conducted properly, competently and seriously” offers Labour a political advantage.
Listen here or here
