Boris Johnson refuses to resign after dramatic No 10 confrontation with cabinet

Boris Johnson sacked Michael Gove after a dramatic confrontation in Downing Street with senior cabinet ministers who pleaded with him to accept that the game is up and resign.

The prime minister told the delegation he plans to “fight on” despite an extraordinary collapse in support including almost 40 resignations.

He told colleagues he remains “focused on the important issues facing the country”, The Independent was told – setting the scene for further likely walkouts in the hours to come.

Mr Johnson’s aide James Duddridge, told Sky News: “The prime minister is in buoyant mood and will fight on. He has a 14 million mandate and so much to do for the country.”

The prime minister refused to budge despite the tally of Tory MPs who have quit his government reaching 38, in a striking symbol of power ebbing away from the man who won a stunning election less than three years ago.

The 1922 Committee of backbenchers stepped back from an immediate rule change to allow a fresh no-confidence vote – but only because it expected the cabinet to finish the job without the need for it.

The delegation was headed by Chris Heaton-Harris, the chief whip responsible for party discipline – which has broken down entirely in fury over the Chris Pincher groping scandal.

It included the transport secretary Grant Shapps, the Welsh Secretary Simon Hart and, it is believed, Nadhim Zahawi, who was only promoted to chancellor late on Tuesday.

Priti Patel, the home secretary, also headed to No 10 – after switching to the anti-Johnson camp, as the levelling up secretary Michael Gove did earlier, telling the prime minister to quit.

But Mr Johnson is believed to have told them that his departure would bring chaos of a leadership contest – during the cost of living crisis – followed by pressure for general election.

In other conversations with wavering MPs, he urged them to recognise that – despite the mass resignations – all other potential leaders would fail to match his popularity with the public.

Earlier, in the Commons, there was applause when one Conservative MP accused Mr Johnson of attempting “to blame other people for mistakes”, telling him: “Take responsibility and resign”.

Sajid Javid, who started the mass resignations by quitting as health secretary on Tuesday evening, urged fellow Tories to follow him, saying: “The problem starts at the top and that is not going to change.”

But some cabinet ministers urged Mr Johnson to refuse to accept the game is up – forming a separate group inside No 10, in a remarkable tussle over power.

Nadine Dorries, the ultra-loyal culture secretary pledged her continued support and, asked if it is possible to remain in power, told reporters: “It is.”

To add to the drama, Mr Johnson broke off from the desperate fight for survival for his regular weekly telephone conversation with the Queen.

Both Kwasi Kwarteng, the business secretary, and the Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis made clear they were withdrawing support from their leader.

A grim-faced Kit Malthouse, a Johnson ally since his days as Mayor of London, emerged from the showdown meeting, but refused to discuss what had gone on.

Some resigning…