Boris Johnson has been left clinging to his job after several of his top aides quit Downing Street last night.
And the Prime Minister is now facing a fresh wave of resignations amid reports Elena Narozanski, a member of his policy unit, has also walked.
Long-term Johnson ally quit as the director of that policy unit in anger over his use of a “scurrilous” Jimmy Savile smear against Labour leader Keir Starmer.
Then chief of staff Dan Rosenfield, principal private secretary Martin Reynolds and director of communications Jack Doyle followed her out of the door on Thursday.
The three men were embroiled in the “partygate” scandal and energy minister Greg Hands suggested their departures were linked to a clear-out after civil servant Sue Gray’s inquiry into the allegations.
Hands told Sky News: “The Prime Minister was absolutely clear on Monday that there would be changes at the top of No 10 and that is what he has delivered.
“The Sue Gray report update said that there were failings at the top of the operation. This is the Prime Minister taking charge.
“This is a wider issue than just the Sue Gray report. This is about saying we need changes at No 10, which is what the Prime Minister said on Monday.”
But Hands conceded that the resignation of Mirza, who had been one of Mr Johnson’s most loyal allies for more than a decade, was “different” to the others.
Johnson's poll ratings are abysmal in Scotland and the majority of Tory MSPs at Holyrood want him to resign as Prime Minister.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross ignited a party civil war last month by repeatedly telling the PM to go.
Craig Hoy, a Tory MSP, said today: “I think it’s going to be another tough period for Downing Street and for the Prime Minister.
“I recognise that this doesn’t look good.
“It does show that things are going to change in Downing Street, that people are leaving.
“But I think that is putting perhaps a positive spin on the situation.”
Asked about the Prime Minister’s Savile comment, Mr Hoy added: “It’s down for the Prime Minister to choose his words. He chose his words.
“The Chancellor said he wouldn’t have chosen them. And I don’t think I would have done so either.”
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