Johnson does not lay down his arms despite the ‘tsunami’ of resignations and calls to hand over the reins of the country

LAST UPDATE: 11:08

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is fighting to remain in No. 10 Downing Street, despite the fact that support for him has collapsed after the barrage of resignations of ministers and government officials over the past two days.

The British prime minister has continued to ignore the walkouts and calls for him to step down, even as many of his previously staunch supporters, including Priti Patel and Grant Shapps, called on him to step down on Wednesday, the BBC reports .

More than 50 ministers and government officials have resigned from the government in less than 48 hours, saying Johnson is unfit to lead after a series of scandals.

Britain’s new finance minister, Nadeem Zahawi, today told Johnson to resign, less than 48 hours after the prime minister promoted him to the post, saying the crisis engulfing the government would worsen.

“This is not sustainable and will only get worse, for you, for the Conservative Party and most of all for the country,” Zachau said on Twitter. “You must do the right thing and leave now.”

British Education Secretary Michelle Donnellan resigned from the government today, less than 48 hours after being appointed, saying it was the only way to force the prime minister to resign.

“I see no way for you to continue in your position, but without a formal mechanism for your removal, it seems the only way to do that … is for those of us who remain in the cabinet to force you out,” Donnellan wrote in the letter resignation, saying he “begged” Johnson on Wednesday to resign.

Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland Secretary, resigned earlier today, following the resignations of the Finance, Health and Wales ministers.

“I cannot sacrifice my personal integrity to defend things as they are now,” Lewis said. It is clear that our party, parliamentary colleagues, volunteers and the whole country deserve better.”

Security Secretary Damian Hinds also resigned today, saying the country needs Prime Minister Boris Johnson to leave in order to “restore confidence in our democracy”.

A delegation of senior ministers and a senior figure representing Conservative MPs not in the government went to Downing Street on Wednesday night to tell Johnson he must go and make a dignified exit.

But he refused to budge and even fired Michael Gove, one of his most effective ministers, who, according to media reports, had told the British leader he should resign.

Mr Gove, a former ally of Johnson’s in the Brexit campaign but who derailed Johnson’s first bid for the Tory leadership, had urged the prime minister to resign earlier on Wednesday.

His sacking last night came after more than 50 ministers and government officials resigned – a record number in a 24-hour period.

Even late into the night, the resignations continued, with Wales’ Simon Hart telling Johnson he had “no choice”, adding that colleagues had done all they could privately and publicly “to help you to turn the ship around, but sadly I feel we’ve passed the point where that’s possible.”

Hart was among the group of cabinet members trying to persuade the British prime minister to step down, which also included Johnson’s former close allies, Home Secretary Priti Patel, Transport Minister Grand Shapps and Business Minister Quasi Kwarteng.

British undersecretary for pensions Guy Opperman, who said the prime minister’s reluctance to step down had left him no other option, has also tendered his resignation, as well as culture secretary Chris Phillips, who had also previously called for his resignation. prime minister.

Boris Johnson – facing the biggest crisis of his prime ministership – now has around 20 cabinet posts to fill after an unprecedented number of resignations.