Boris Johnson is clinging on to his Downing Street career tonight as Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid quit in protest over the handling of yet another sleaze scandal.
The senior ministers resigned within minutes of each other, suggesting there is a coordinated move to oust Mr Johnson.
The resignations came after a brutal day for the Prime Minister, in which was accused trying to "cover up" the "inappropriate behaviour" of his former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher.
Mr Pincher, the MP for Tamworth, was suspended as a Conservative Party MP last week over allegations he groped two men at a private members' club in London.
For days ministers insisted Mr Johnson was not aware of specific allegations against Mr Pincher when he was appointed deputy chief whip - whose job it is to uphold discipline among fellow Tory MPs.
But this morning Lord McDonald of Salford, the ex-permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, said that was “not true”.
This evening Mr Javid told the Prime Minister that the recent vote of confidence should have been a “moment for humility, grip and new direction”.
But he said: “I regret to say, however, that it is clear to me that this situation will not change under your leadership – and you have therefore lost my confidence too.”
He continued: “The country needs a strong and principled Conservative Party, and the Party is bigger than any one individual. I served you loyally and as a friend, but we all serve the country first.
“When made to choose between those loyalties there can only be one answer.”
Mr Sunak, resigning just minutes later, said: “The public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously.
“I recognise this may be my last ministerial job, but I believe these standards are worth fighting for and that is why I am resigning”.
Mr Johnson had earlier sought to calm the Tory ranks with an apology, to no avail.
Asked if it was an error to appoint Mr Pincher to the Government, the Prime Minister said: “I think it was a mistake and I apologise for it. In hindsight it was the wrong thing to do.
“I apologise to everybody who has been badly affected by it. I want to make absolutely clear that there’s no place in this Government for anybody who is predatory or who abuses their position of power.”
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