Michael Gove has been sacked as levelling up, housing and communities secretary, following reports he urged Boris Johnson to resign earlier today.
GB News Presenter Darren McCaffrey confirmed that the Prime Minister axed Mr Gove in a phone call this evening.
Reports follow claims the levelling up, housing and communities secretary was among a number of Cabinet ministers urging the Prime Minister to resign.
The minister refrained from attending Prime Minister's Questions earlier today, as the Prime Minister faced a tough time from his own MPs as well as Sir Keir Starmer.
Michael Gove was sacked by Boris Johnson this evening
Danny Lawson
A group of Cabinet ministers were believed to have told Boris Johnson to leave Downing Street, as he haemorrhaged support across the Tory ranks.
Newly appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, Nadhim Zahawi allegedly joined Cabinet ministers in a move to axe the Prime Minister from power.
Home Secretary Priti Patel is reported to be among the ministers urging Boris Johnson to stand down.
Ms Patel is understood to have spoken to the Prime Minister to convey the “overwhelming view” of the parliamentary party.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, who was paramount in the Prime Minister’s fight for survival during partygate, is among those who will demand he quits, sources said.
Long-standing ally Brandon Lewis, who believes Mr Johnson’s position is “now untenable”, was understood to be part of the group, as was Welsh Secretary Simon Hart.
The announcement of his axing, follows the resignation of 29 MPs who left their governmental roles amid an ongoing row over the handling of the Chris Pincher scandal.
Mr Gove has been a notable critic of the Prime Minister, stabbing him in the back in 2016, when he withdrew his support for Mr Johnson's leadership campaign following the Brexit referendum, beginning his own campaign in spite.
Despite a tsunami of ministerial and MP resignations, the Prime Minister has thwarted calls for him to resign from his role.
