Sky News understands the Prime Minister wants to “fight on” and is likely to make more ministerial appointments tonight after an avalanche of resignations. An ally of the prime minister said Mr Johnson knows he has been given a mandate by 14 million people, adding that “the only way he will go is if the party takes it away from him”. Meanwhile, Priti Patel was among the cabinet ministers who told Johnson he should listen to the overwhelming view of the Conservative Party and resign, Sky News understands. Politics Hub: Chief whip at Number 10 with ministers – follow live The home secretary, one of the prime minister’s staunchest supporters, is believed to have spoken to the prime minister and told him she did not believe she could continue in his post, amid an avalanche of ministerial resignations and growing calls for him to quit. Ms Patel is believed to be joined by the new chancellor, Nadhim Zahawi, Wales Secretary Simon Hart and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps in calling on Mr Johnson to resign tonight. The delegation of senior politicians, which also included Police Secretary Keith Malthouse, new Education Secretary Michelle Donnellan and Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris is said to have told the Prime Minister at Number 10 that his position is untenable. Also present was the chairman of the 1922 Commission Sir Graham Brady, who headed to Downing Street after today’s Tory group meeting. Meanwhile, Business Minister Kwasi Kwarteng and Northern Ireland Minister Brandon Lewis were also understood to be supporting the delegation but were not in London to join their cabinet colleagues. Mr Kwarteng has already pulled out of a planned media tour on Thursday morning amid the crisis over Mr Johnson’s leadership. Sky News deputy political editor Sam Coates understands the group has delivered a “final ultimatum” to Mr Johnson, saying “you go or we go”. But leaving Whitehall, Jacob Rees-Mogg said “no” that the Prime Minister did not intend to resign and that Mr Johnson had his “full support”. Asked if she still supported the Prime Minister, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries replied: “Definitely.” Mr Johnson was expected to return to Downing Street after giving evidence to the House of Commons Liaison Committee, where he insisted to members that he would stay in office as it was not “responsible for him to just walk away”. However, resignations from his government have reached 38 and several MPs have tweeted their calls for him to step down. One of the latest to join them is Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely, who said “important debates and important issues… are being drowned out by the incessant noise from Downing Street”. Leaving Downing Street, Police Secretary Mr Malthouse said it had been “a difficult day”. The prime minister faces an avalanche of resignations Meanwhile, the executive of the Tory backbench 1922 committee was meeting to discuss whether to change the rules to allow another confidence vote in the prime minister. The influential group decided it would hold elections for a new executive on Monday and could decide on any rule changes the same night. The resignations from Mr Johnson’s government began on Tuesday after Downing Street admitted it was aware of allegations of misconduct by disgraced MP Chris Pincher in 2019 before hiring him as deputy leader in February. Ministers had been sent to defend Mr Johnson and said he was not aware of any “specific” allegations. Mr Pincher resigned from the role last week after further allegations that he abused two men at a private club in London and was later expelled from the Conservative Party. Former senior civil servant Lord MacDonald revealed on Tuesday that the Prime Minister had been told personally about the 2019 allegations, despite what Downing Street told the press. Less than 12 hours later, Mr Javid and Mr Sunak resigned, sparking an uproar from more junior ministers who said they could no longer support Mr Johnson. “Sinking ships flee the rat” Earlier, Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer attacked the prime minister for his handling of the scandal, reading the charges against Mr Pincher as “a reminder to everyone who supports this prime minister how serious the situation is”. In heated exchanges at PMQs, the Labor leader said his list of resignations had left a “z-list of beckoning dogs” on his front bench and that “ships are sinking [are] running away from the rat.” But Mr Johnson insisted: “The job of a prime minister in difficult circumstances when he’s been given a colossal mandate is to get on with it, and that’s what I’m going to do.” Meanwhile, facing the day’s second inquiry before the powerful Liaison Committee, Mr Johnson said he would “of course” remain prime minister tomorrow despite facing an avalanche of resignations from members of his government. Mr Johnson insisted that both the truth and the accuracy of the language were “very important” to him during a series of inquiries by the Conservative chairman of the Justice Select Committee, Sir Bob Neill. Johnson will “of course” be prime minister tomorrow Meanwhile, William Rugg, a Tory MP who described the prime minister’s position as “untenable” in January, asked Mr Johnson: “At what point does it become impossible for the Queen’s government to continue?” Mr Johnson replied: “I really think you are underestimating the talent, energy and sheer ambition of MPs and wanting to get things done.” He added that governments cannot solve problems “by threatening to call elections”.
