There’s one question on everyone’s mind – is Boris Johnson going to resign as prime minister?
The PM has been hit by a scandal that has seen the resignations of his chancellor and health secretary, and more than 30 other MPs in less than 24 hours.
The same question swirled following the publication of the Sue Gray report – but Mr Johnson vowed to keep going.
Politics Hub: PM answering questions now as Gove tells him to go – live updates
Today, Boris Johnson insisted that ‘of course’ he will be still be prime minister tomorrow.
But will the Chris Pincher scandal be the one that prompts the PM to call time on his premiership?
Sky’s political team give their thoughts.
‘The game is up’
Sky’s political editor, Beth Rigby, said she has been told a delegation of three cabinet ministers – Zahawi, Hart and Lewis have made it clear to the chief whip that it’s time for the PM to go.
Beth has also been told that this trio say his position now untenable.
Alongside this, she has spoken to a loyal cabinet minister, who told her: “The game is up, this is not survivable.
“I can’t see him lasting the day and those suggesting he stays on are not doing him any favours.
“I’m in the trenches with him, but we’re outgunned, out-manoeuvred & out of ammunition.”
He knows the end is coming but wants to be dragged out
Sam Coates, deputy political editor, has spoken to an ally of the PM.
“Boris Johnson ally says he will fight to the end not because he thinks it will turn things around, but because he wants the optics of being seen to be dragged from office,” he understands.
Asked if the end is coming, the PM’s ally “appeared to suggest yes: ‘of course he does, he’s got eyes and ears'”.
Sam also understands that a rule change allowing a new vote of confidence in the PM could go through tonight – though a vote won’t be triggered immediately.
Could #metoo bring down Boris Johnson?
Sky correspondent Liz Bates says: “The received wisdom in Westminster until a few days ago was that partygate would eventually bring down the prime minister.
“Instead, it looks like the catalyst could be Chris Pincher and his shock resignation last week.
“In his letter to Boris Johnson, he admitted being drunk and acting inappropriately.
“Since then many more allegations of sexual misconduct have surfaced – some that were already known by people high up in government – all until this moment were either dismissed as gossip and rumour, or dealt with behind closed doors.
“This has tended to be the norm in Westminster but things do seem to be shifting a little.
“Over the past few years as those who have long suffered in silence have found the confidence to speak out, some in power have finally been forced to face consequences of their behaviour.
“In the wake of two by-elections – one triggered because the MP sexually assaulted a teenager and the other because the MP was caught watching porn in the Commons – maybe Mr Pincher felt that something that might have once been brushed under the carpet would no longer be tolerated.
“As the resignations started gaining momentum yesterday, one female MP told me that the #metoo movement was going to end Boris Johnson’s career.
“It’s starting to look like she could be right.”
What has Boris Johnson himself said?
At PMQs this afternoon, the prime minister promised to keep going.
Asked by fellow Conservative Tim Loughton if there were “any circumstances in which he should resign”, Mr Johnson said he would if he “felt it was impossible… to go on” as a government.
But he added: “The job of a prime minister in difficult circumstances when he has been handed a colossal mandate is to keep going, and that’s what I am going to do.”
However, it may not be up to him, as the executive of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs could make some rule changes which could lead to another confidence vote in their leader.
You can follow updates in our Politics Hub where you’ll get all the latest news on the PM’s future as it happens.
