Boris Johnson’s premiership collapsed after a string of resignations, including from the chancellor, the health secretary and a number of Conservative ministers and aides. Here is a list of those who resigned.
Michelle Donelan – 8.51am Thursday
Less than 48 hours after she was appointed education secretary, Donelan quit, saying Johnson had put the cabinet in an “impossible situation”.
James Cartlidge – 8.09am Thursday
The courts minister said it was obvious that it was “no longer even remotely possible” to give Johnson a chance and put aside his “previous transgressions”.
The MP for South Suffolk said he had initially “felt duty bound to remain in post” because of the “challenging circumstances facing the criminal courts”, but that that position was “clearly untenable”.
Chris Philp – 8.02am Thursday
Urging the prime minister to deliver the gambling review “in full and undiluted”, the minister for technology and the digital economy said he could no longer serve in government on Thursday morning because of the importance of “integrity, honesty and trust in politics”.
Guy Opperman – 7.50am Thursday
The pensions minister told Johnson: “The government simply cannot function with you in charge.”
George Freeman – 7.21am Thursday
The minister for science, research and innovation wrote: “Enough is enough. This can’t go on. The chaos in No 10, the breakdown of cabinet collective responsibility, the abandonment of the ministerial code, the defence of impropriety and defiance of parliament are all insults to the Conservatism I believe in and stand for.”
Damian Hinds – 7.15am Thursday
The security minister was the third minister to go on Thursday morning. The MP for Hampshire said there had been a “serious erosion” of standards.
He wrote: “More important than any government or leader are the standards we uphold in public life and faith in our democracy and public administration. Because of the serious erosion in these, I have come to the conclusion that the right thing for our country and our party is for you to stand down, as party leader and prime minister.”
Helen Whately – 6.49am Thursday
The MP for Faversham and Mid Kent resigned as a Treasury minister, saying of Johnson: “There are only so many times you can apologise and move on. That point has been reached.”
Brandon Lewis – 6.47am Thursday
The Northern Ireland secretary resigned early on Thursday morning, telling the prime minister that government required “honesty, integrity and mutual respect”.
In his resignation letter, the MP for Great Yarmouth told Johnson 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. 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.”
Gareth Davies – 11.54pm Wednesday
The MP for Grantham and Stamford resigned late on Wednesday night as a parliamentary private secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care – “not a decision I have taken lightly”, he tweeted.
Edward Argar – 10.45pm Wednesday
The MP for Charnwood handed in his resignation as a minister of state for health. He wrote: “It is now the time to consider the future, and the ‘big call’ of how we face that future with integrity, and in that context I fear that a change is needed in order for our party to continue to deliver on our shared ambitions for our country.”
Simon Hart – 10.33pm Wednesday
The MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire resigned as secretary of state for Wales. He wrote in his letter to Johnson, published on Twitter: “I have never been a massive fan of ministerial resignations being the best means of forcing change.
“Colleagues have done their upmost in private and public to help you turn the ship around, but it is with sadness that I feel we have passed the point where this is possible.”
Danny Kruger – 9.36pm Wednesday
The Devizes MP quit as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities after the sacking of his boss, Michael Gove.
James Daly – 9.25pm Wednesday
The Bury North MP quit as a PPS at the Department for Work and Pensions.
David Mundell – 9.22pm Wednesday
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The MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale quit as trade envoy to New Zealand.
Jacob Young – 8.39pm Wednesday
The MP for Redcar resigned as a PPS in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Peter Gibson – 5.15pm Wednesday
Gibson resigned as a parliamentary aide in the Department for International Trade and cited the damaged caused by the government’s failure to ban conversion practices for trans people as one of the reasons.
Ruth Edwards – 4.57pm Wednesday
Edwards said she was “heartbroken” to learn that the prime minister had appointed Chris Pincher to deputy chief whip despite knowing about serious allegations of sexual misconduct.
Sara Britcliffe – 4.49pm Wednesday
Britcliffe said she was resigning as a parliamentary aide in the Department for Education “with a heavy heart”. She added: “This self-inflicted crisis risks undoing all of that. It’s time to draw a line.”
Mark Fletcher – 4.27pm Wednesday
The parliamentary aide in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy accused the prime minister of being an “apologist” for someone who has allegedly committed sexual assault.
James Sunderland – 4.09pm Wednesday
The MP resigned as a parliamentary aide in the environment department, without giving a reason.
Mike Freer – 4.03pm Wednesday
Freer resigned as minister for exports and equalities, saying: “I can no longer defend policies I fundamentally disagree with.” He also said the party was moving too far away from one-nation conservatism. He accused the government of “creating an atmosphere of hostility for LGBT+ people”.
Rachel Maclean – 3.38pm Wednesday
The MP resigned as a minister for safeguarding in the Home Office, saying she could not make progress with her job while Johnson remained in office. Maclean said he should resign for the good of the country and party.
Mark Logan – 3.32pm Wednesday
The MP resigned as a parliamentary aide in the Northern Ireland Office, saying the party needed to accept the reality staring it in the face. He said there was only so much that his constituents and the public “to accept or ignore.”
Craig Williams – 3.22pm Wednesday
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The MP for Montgomeryshire said he was resigning as parliamentary private secretary to the chancellor of the exchequer. In a letter posted to Twitter, he said: “After the recent vote of confidence, I had given my support to you, with one last benefit of the doubt. I believed it was right that we draw a line under previous events and focus on rebuilding trust with the public and focusing on delivering good policies. It has now become apparent over recent days, that this is becoming impossible. It is therefore with deep regret that I resign from your government.”
Fay Jones – 3.07pm Wednesday
The parliamentary private secretary to the leader of the House of Commons issued a half-resignation, saying she would step down if the prime minister is not gone by Thursday.
Duncan Baker – 3.04pm Wednesday
Baker resigned as a parliamentary private secretary in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
In a statement on Facebook, the MP for North Norfolk said: “In my short time as the MP for North Norfolk, I have spoken out time and time again on matters relating to integrity, leadership and trust. I must remain true to my values and principles. I have felt for a considerable while that the situation cannot go on. I do not have confidence in the prime minister and resign my role as a PPS in the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.”
Mims Davies – 2.26pm Wednesday
Davies resigned as employment minister, saying the Conservative party needs a “fresh start”.
In a tweet, the Mid Sussex MP said: “I have tendered my resignation from the government from a role I have cherished for the last three years. I thank everyone @DWP from bottom of my heart for all their work, friendship & support. But Conservatives needs a fresh start & I can see no other way forward than this.”
Kemi Badenoch, Neil O’Brien, Alex Burghart, Lee Rowley and Julia Lopez – 2.25pm Wednesday
Five ministers resigned at once, signing a joint resignation letter saying “it has become increasingly clear that the government cannot function given the issues that have come to light”. The five are: Kemi Badenoch, the equalities minister; Neil O’Brien, the levelling up minister; Alex Burghart, the skills minister; Lee Rowley, the business minister, and Julia Lopez, the minister for media, data and digital infrastructure.
Selaine Saxby – 1.30pm Wednesday
The MP for North Devon has resigned as a parliamentary private secretary to George Eustice, the environment secretary, saying “trust, truth and integrity” were vital in politics.
David Johnston – 1.25pm Wednesday
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The Wantage MP quit as parliamentary private secretary at the Department for Education.