Boris Johnson has suffered a brutal double defeat at the polls as voters turned their back on the Tories in two critical by-elections.
In a night of high drama, Labour won back the Red Wall seat of Wakefield and the Liberal Democrats overturned a 24,000 Tory majority in Tiverton and Honiton.
Conservative chairman Oliver Dowden quit this morning with a warning: "We cannot carry on with business as usual."
The disastrous results will pile pressure on Boris Johnson, who has been trying to restore his battered premiership after he clung on in a no confidence vote earlier this month.
No sitting Prime Minister has lost two by-elections in a single day since Tory John Major in 1991.
Mr Johnson jetted off to Rwanda on Wednesday for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) but he won't be able to escape his domestic woes.
Mr Johnson told reporters in Kigali that he would listen to voters but insisted he would "keep going".
The Prime Minister said: "It's absolutely true we've had some tough by-election results, they've been, I think, a reflection of a lot of things, but we've got to recognise voters are going through a tough time at the moment.
"I think, as a Government, I've got to listen to what people are saying, in particular to the difficulties people are facing over the cost of living, which, I think, for most people is the number one issue.
"We're now facing pressures on the cost of living, we're seeing spikes in fuel prices, energy costs, food costs - that's hitting people.
"We've got to recognise there is more we've got to do and we certainly will, we will keep going, addressing the concerns of people until we get through this patch."
Labour leader Keir Starmer said the "country has lost confidence in the Tories", saying that the Conservatives had "run out of energy and ideas".
He said: “Wakefield has shown the country has lost confidence in the Tories.
“This result is a clear judgement on a Conservative Party that has run out of energy and ideas. Britain deserves better. Wakefield has voted Labour because we have the solutions for the challenges facing the British people.
“The Labour Party is back on the side of working people, winning seats where we lost before, and ready for government.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “The Liberal Democrats have made political history with this stunning win. It is the biggest by-election victory our country has ever seen.
“This should be a wake-up call for all those Conservative MPs propping up Boris Johnson. They cannot afford to ignore this result."
And the winner in Tiverton and Honiton called on the PM to step down after the defeats.
Mr Dowden in his resignation letter to the Prime Minister said: "Yesterday’s Parliamentary by-elections are the latest in a run of very poor result for our party,” Mr Dowden wrote in a letter to the Prime Minister.
“Our supporters are distressed and disappointed by recent events, and I share their feelings.
“We cannot carry on with business as usual. Somebody must take responsibility and I have concluded that, in these circumstances, it would not be right for me to remain in office.”
Tory recriminations began immediately.
Conservative grandee Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said there is "no doubt" it would be "difficult to hold" his safe Cotswolds seat if there was a by-election now.
Sir Geoffrey, treasurer of the backbench 1922 committee, said: "I think factually if I were to run under a bus today it would be difficult to hold my seat, there's no doubt about that.
"I feel very sorry for all our volunteers and indeed my colleagues, and indeed myself, who work very hard in these by-elections, but were simply defeated by the situation that we find ourselves in at the moment."
Former Cabinet Minister John Redwood, a staunch Brexiteer, said: "Conservative voters stay at home when the Treasury serves up higher taxes instead of easing the cost of living squeeze.
"They want the government to be on their side, not taxing and bossing them too much.
Conservative MP Simon Hoare tweeted: "An honourable letter from an honourable man. Oliver Dowden is not to blame for these results.
"Since 2015 I have always been proud to call Oliver a friend. Never more so than today."
In Wakefield, Simon Lightwood was elected to the West Yorkshire seat with a majority of 4,925 on a swing of 12.7% from the Tories to Labour.
The previous Wakefield MP Imran Ahmad Khan quit after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy - a crime for which he was jailed for 18 months.
Wakefield was one of the Red Wall seats won by the Tories in the 2019 election after being Labour since the 1930s.
Mr Lightwood said: "The people of Wakefield have spoken on behalf of the British people. They have said, unreservedly: Boris Johnson, your contempt for this country is no longer tolerated."
In a major upset, the Liberal Democrats overturned a 24,000 Tory majority to win in Tiverton and Honiton.
The contest in the Devon seat was triggered by the resignation of Conservative Neil Parish after admitting he had watched pornography on his phone in the House of Commons.
A dramatic swing of almost 30% from the Tories to the Liberal Democrats saw Richard Foord secure a majority of 6,144.
The new Lib Dem MP used his acceptance speech to call for Mr Johnson "to go, and go now", claiming his victory had "sent a shockwave through British politics".
Mr Foord said: "The people of Tiverton and Honiton have spoken for Britain. They sent a loud and clear message - it's time for Boris Johnson to go, and go now."
He said that "every day Boris Johnson clings to office he brings further shame, chaos and neglect".
In a message to the Prime Minister, Mr Foord, a former army major, said: "I can tell you that leadership means acting with decency and integrity.
"It means keeping your word. It means setting an example and putting other people's needs before your own. I served alongside friends who personified these values, and laid down their lives in service of their country.
"And yet your behaviour Mr Johnson, makes a mockery of leadership. By any measure, you are unfit to lead. "
The Liberal Democrats said Mr Foord had overturned the biggest majority in by-election history. It was the sixth biggest swing against a government since 1945 in by-elections where both the seat and incumbent changed hands.
