Statements were drafted, alliances were sought, and the PM announced he would quit as days of pressure came to a head
released his statement calling for the prime minister to go early on Thursday morning, his allies believed there was a risk he could be sacked as chancellor. He had held the post for two days.
Red-eyed MPs blamed a small group in Johnson’s inner circle for letting the farce drag on for so long, after sources close to him insisted it was not “doomsday” and “he wants to stay and fight”. “There were definitely some tears,” one source said. “But I think those came from people who knew that it was over rather than the hardcore.”
As word emerged that Johnson intended finally to announce his resignation but stay to see in a new leader, bruised MPs surviving on minimal sleep went back into crisis mode, fuelled by what they had witnessed of his behaviour over the past 48 hours. Dozens demanded that the prime minister go immediately and hand over to deputy prime minister Dominic Raab in the meantime.
Over the course of the morning, different MPs said they were planning on backing Rishi Sunak, Sajid Javid, Tom Tugendhat, Penny Mordaunt, Jeremy Hunt and. Jake Berry and Steve Baker also emerged as candidates taking soundings. Buckland said: “Who knows?” when asked if he would.
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