After two of his top ministers attacked Boris Johnson's leadership and resigned, Boris Johnson is now fighting for his political survival.
Within 10 minutes, Chancellor Rishi Shah and Health Secretary Sajid Javid resigned. They were followed by a frenzy of junior ministers or aides.
Critics claimed it was over for the prime minister while Labour claimed the party he headed was corrupted.
Johnson, however, made it clear that he intended to remain on while he worked to strengthen his government through a cabinet reshuffle.
He appointed Nadhim Zahawi the new chancellor. Steve Barclay, the chief of staff to the prime minister, has been named health secretary.
Johnson, who is currently facing the worst leadership crisis of his premiership to date, will be under more pressure as he meets MPs at Prime Minister’s Questions later Wednesday.
He will also be giving evidence to the Liaison Committee, a group comprising MPs that scrutinise government policy and decisions.
Mr Sunak and Mr Javid have not spoken publicly since their resignations, but their letters of resignation on Tuesday were harshly critical of the PM.
Mr Javid warned that the leadership wasn't "acting in national interest", while Mr Sunak stated that the public expects government to be run "properly", competently, and seriously".
Opposition leaders called on cabinet ministers to join them and resign. Labour Leader Sir Keir Sternmer stated that he is ready for a snap election.
Andrew Mitchell, a Conservative MP and ex-chief whip, said that it was over for Johnson. He stated that Johnson "has neither the character nor temperament to be our prime Minister" - the only question being how long.
However, no Tory MPs have made a challenge to the prime minister. Several ministers have rallied behind the PM, including Foreign Secretary Liz Truss -- one possible contender for his leadership.
She stated that she was "100% behind" the PM, while other cabinet ministers, including Dominic Raab and Michael Gove, Therese Copffey, Ben Wallace, and Therese Colffey, indicated they would remain in the government.
Daniel Kawczynski, Tory backbencher, suggested that the resignations would eventually strengthen Mr Johnson's position. He added that they "could trigger an avalanche towards the prime minister but it didn't".
Boris Johnson is ready for more resignations.
After two cabinet resignations, Westminster wondered for a while what would happen next. The PM also wondered.
He was not in control of the events and was looking for his other cabinet members to confirm if they were still there. They were, and the moment of most danger for him is over - at least for now.
There were a few more resignations from junior staff, but there was a defiance from his group. They point out the mandate they received from the electorate at last election, contrary to the anger and despair among many Conservative MPs.
What might Rishi Javid or Sajid Javid do or say next?
Already there is a lot of discontent on the backbenches. Some are hoping to change the rules of the Conservative Party so that the prime minister can face another vote.
Johnson's future looks far from certain.
Chris Mason has more analysis available here
On Tuesday evening, the political drama began just minutes after Johnson gave a BBC interview in which he admitted that he made a "bad error" in appointing Chris Pincher deputy chief whip in February despite knowing of misconduct allegations against Johnson.
After days of shifting responses from No 10, it was clear that Mr Johnson had not fully understood the allegations against Mr Pincher at the time he offered him the job.
This row is just the latest reason Conservative MPs have questioned the leadership and direction of the government by the prime minister.
Johnson's government has been plagued by a number of controversies over the past months, not least by a Police investigation into Downing Street parties during lockdown.
Some Tory MPs also voiced disapproval over tax increases, the government's response towards rising living costs, and its policy direction.
In his resignation letter to the PM, Mr Sunak mentioned tensions over the economy, telling him: "In preparation of our proposed joint speech about the economy next week it has become obvious to me that our approaches have been fundamentally too different."
Junior Tories resigned in droves after the departures, including Bim Afolami who quit as vice chair of the party, Solicitor General Alex Chalk and four ministerial assistants.
Last month saw the collapse of the Tiverton, Honiton, and Wakefield by-elections and the resignation of Oliver Dowden, chairman of the Conservative Party. This added pressure on the prime minister.
The resignations came just weeks after he had survived a no confidence vote.
After he has won 59% of votes, the PM is exempt from any Conservative leadership challenge up to June next year.
However, Tory rebels opposing Mr Johnson's leadership are trying to force a change to party rules in order to eliminate the year-long gap between formal leadership challenges.
They plan to use the upcoming elections for the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPPs to elect members who are willing to alter the rules.
Andrew Bridgen, a Conservative MP, stated to the BBC that the prime minister should resign. If he does not, "the party will have him forced out."
He stated that the 1922 committee would deal with the turbulent prime minister because it is what it was designed for.
Sir Keir, Labour leader, said that he would be open to a snap election. He also stated that the country required a change in government.
He stated that "After all of the sleaze and all the failures, it's evident that this Tory government has now collapsed."
Although the next general election will be in 2024, it could also be held earlier if Johnson uses his power to call one.
Sir Ed Davey (leader of the Liberal Democrats) said that the prime minister's "government in chaos has failed our nation" and demanded that he be fired.
Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish First Minister and leader of the SNP, said that "the whole rotten bunch" in Johnson's government must go. She also accused ministers of lying to the public.
