Boris Johnson is clinging on to his Downing Street career tonight after 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.
Read more: Tory urges ministers to 'consider their position' in Boris Johnson's Cabinet over latest scandal
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.”
What next?
In Westminster circles Boris Johnson is often described as the "greased piglet", due to his ability to wriggle out of any scandal or parliamentary impasse.
He has weathered Partygate, a confidence vote, has batted away backbench dissent and shrugged off former Tory leaders Michael Howard and William Hague who have called on him to go.
But with the resignation of two of his most senior ministers, the Prime Minister's luck may finally have run out.
While the rest of his Cabinet looks steady for now, we're likely to see a stream of more junior ministers - potentially from the Treasury and Department of Health - following their bosses out the door overnight or tomorrow.
Each resignation will only ratchet up pressure on a Downing Street operation that is teetering on the edge.
Will Boris Johnson resign?
The man to watch in the next 24 hours is Altrincham and Sale West MP Sir Graham Brady, who chairs the powerful 1922 Committee representing backbench Tories.
The famous "men in grey suits" played a role in the downfall of both Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May, but Mr Johnson is no normal Prime Minister and a quiet word in the ear from Sir Graham may not suffice.
If Mr Johnson attempts to go on following tonight's resignations, the 1922 committee may decide on a rule change to allow another vote of confidence in the Prime Minister.
Under the party's current constitution, Mr Johnson is protected from a second vote for a year - but with elections to the Committee's ruling executive just weeks away, there will be an opportunity to review the current rules.
What has the reaction been?
In a word, damning. Former Tory deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine said it was "the end", adding: "The boil has now burst".
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "After all the sleaze, the scandals and the failure, it’s clear that this Government is now collapsing."
The resignations of course comes less than 24 hours before what will likely be a brutal Prime Minister's Questions, which could end up being Mr Johnson's last.
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