Boris Johnson 's former mistress says she "feels sorry" for the outgoing Prime Minister - just days after she likened him to Vladimir Putin.
Petronella Wyatt tweeted today that politics is a "nasty game" after Mr Johnson finally accepted that the game is up.
The journalist, who he had an affair with between 2000 and 2004, wrote: "Politics is a very nasty game. I can’t help but feel sorry for Boris now."
She had previously written off any chances of Mr Johnson walking out from his job, saying it was "as likely as Putin withdrawing (from) Ukraine saying it had all been a terrible mistake".
Ms Wyatt, 54, had said his ego would not allow him to walk away - instead predicting he would fill his cabinet with loyalists as the crisis deepens.
She told the Daily Mail : 'Boris is the best liar we have ever had as Prime Minister, and has successfully perpetuated the notion that all politicians lie, and so he is no worse than the next one."
She continued: "Boris's obsession with his own divine right will tear apart his party and cause collateral damage to the country."
Ms Wyatt lashed out at Mr Johnson's supporters who say he got Brexit done, saying that Dominic Cummings was the "mastermind" behind the UK's exit from the EU.
She said the PM would be "shocked" when former allies turned on him, saying that he had the instincts of a "dictator", adding: "The unpalatable truth is that Boris and Putin share similarities."
A No 10 source said Mr Johnson spoke to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Conservative 1922 Committee, to inform him of his decision.
"The Prime Minister has spoken to Graham Brady and agreed to stand down in time for a new leader to be in place by the conference in October," a No 10 source said.
If he gets his way, he'll preside over a chaotic summer as a Tory leadership contest unfolds.
However many within his party would rather see him out as soon as possible, with an interim Prime Minister in place until a permanent leader is found.
North Dorset MP Simon Hoare, for example, tweeted this morning: "Ministers resigned *because* of the PM. The Party lost confidence *because* of the PM. It is beyond credulity that Mr Johnson can stay in office even pro tem. New constitutional territory but he has to go and go means go."
Dominic Cummings was far more blunt, writing: "Evict TODAY or he'll cause CARNAGE, even now he's playing for time & will try to stay No 'dignity', no 'interim while leadership contest'. Raab shd be interim PM by evening."
If the PM's position as interim leader is deemed untenable, it is possible the Tories may turn to deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab to steer the ship through rocky waters in the coming months.
George Freeman, who quit as science minister today, tweeted: “ Boris Johnson needs to hand in the seals of office, apologise to Her Majesty & advise her to call for a Caretaker Prime Minister to take over today."
Tory Bim Afolami tweeted his comments, adding: "Agree".
