Boris Johnson latest as Prime Minister sacks Michael Gove and Simon Heart resigns - live updates

After a day of mass resignations, Boris Johnson is still clinging on to his job at Prime Minister. The battle for his job came under further pressure after more resignations and a leadership challenge from former ally Suella Braverman.

The Prime Minister rejected calls to quit on Wednesday and dramatically sacked Cabinet rival Michael Gove, but was later hit with the departure of a third Cabinet minister - Welsh Secretary Simon Hart - and further demands to go from the Attorney General.

Late on Wednesday night, Mr Hart who had hours earlier sat on the frontbench during Prime Minister's Questions, quit the cabinet. He joined the growing number of Conservative MPs who have resigned from government positions since Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid resigned on Tuesday.

Read more:Simon Hart resigns as Welsh Secretary in latest blow

He was one of the senior MPs we understand went to Downing Street on the evening of July 6, to tell the Prime Minister his position was no longer tenable. Mr Johnson was told he had lost the confidence of the Tory party and should not continue in office - but refused to listen.

Mr Hart, represents Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire. has been Welsh secretary since November 2019, taking over from Alun Cairns who quit after a scandal involving a member of his office staff and a rape trial.

In his resignation letter, Mr Hart said that he wanted to help Mr Johnson "turn the ship around", but "we have passed the point where this is possible".

Mr Gove was thought to have told the Prime Minister on Wednesday morning that it was time for him to quit. That was followed by a delegation of Cabinet ministers going to No 10 to tell Mr Johnson he should stand down after losing the trust of his MPs.

No 10 sources