today at six... the prime minister's authority is draining away. resignations from government and a loss of support among his backbenchers as well. just some of the tory ministers and aides grab sent in letters of resignation, 36 counting. is grab sent in letters of resignation, 36 counting-— grab sent in letters of resignation, 36 counting. is the government are collapsing? — 36 counting. is the government are collapsing? in _ 36 counting. is the government are collapsing? in the _ 36 counting. is the government are collapsing? in the last _ 36 counting. is the government are collapsing? in the last hour, - collapsing? in the last hour, cabinet ministers _ collapsing? in the last hour, cabinet ministers have - collapsing? in the last hour, cabinet ministers have beeni cabinet ministers have been streaming into number 10 with one message for borisjohnson, it is time to go. it follows a devastating speech from the former health secretary. we have reason to question the truth and integrity of what we have all been told. and at some point, we have to conclude that enough is enough.

i believe that point is now. will you be prime minister tomorrow? of course. more westminster hostility from senior mps this afternoon, but through it all the prime minister insists he's here to stay. frankly, mr speaker, the job of a prime minister in difficult circumstances when he has being handed a colossal mandate is to keep going and that's what i'm going to do. tonight at the end appears night for borisjohnson, it feels like a question of when, not if he will go. political turmoil in westminster and we will have the latest in a fast moving story. on here, what voters think about all. also tonight... a ukranian mother picks through the remnants of her beloved son's life — our special report on russian atrocities and a war crimes investigation. the lionesses training at old trafford. in less than two hours, they'll be on the pitch for real.

the women's euros get under way today. stay with us. stay with us for our continuing coverage of the news from our correspondence around the world. hello and welcome to the bbc news at six. as we go on air this evening, a number of cabinet ministers are in number ten and they have one message for the prime minister — it is time to go. at least 36 ministers and aides have said they can no longer serve under borisjohnson. it follows a devastating resignation statement this afternoon from the former health secretary sajid javid. he told a packed house of commons that he quit because he no longer thought it was possible to hang

on to his own integrity while remaining loyal to the prime minister. "enough is enough, he said. all day conservative backbenchers have been withdrawing their support as well. despite all this, the prime minister insists he is here to stay but rarely has westminster seen a day when the authority of a prime minister has been undermined in this way. let's turn to our political editor chris mason: at lunchtime i sat in the press gallery for prime minister's questions and you could feel, you could hear the authority and power of borisjohnson draining away moment by moment. in the hours afterwards, even his most loyal supporters were privately saying that the game was up, it was time for him to go. as you said, in the last hour or so, a delegation of cabinet ministers, one by one, heading into downing street to say that boris johnson heading into downing street to say that borisjohnson must resign. today has felt like the most pivotal date yet in the downfall of boris

johnson. the front pages, the photographers, the reporters, all asking the same question. is the reporters, all asking the same cuestion. , ., ., question. is it allover, prime minister? _ question. is it allover, prime minister? the _ question. is it allover, prime minister? the lenses - question. is it allover, prime minister? the lenses tilt - question. is it all over, prime - minister? the lenses tilt towards boris johnson — minister? the lenses tilt towards boris johnson leaving _ minister? the lenses tilt towards boris johnson leaving downing i borisjohnson leaving downing street, heading for parliament at lunchtime, and prime minister's questions. the difficult questions usually come from the opposition benches but today they came from conservative mps as well. the prime list to constantly _ conservative mps as well. the prime list to constantly try _ conservative mps as well. the prime list to constantly try to _ conservative mps as well. the prime list to constantly try to deflect - list to constantly try to deflect from the issue can always try to blame other people for mistakes and at least nothing left for him to do other than to take responsibility and resign. other than to take responsibility and resign-_ and resign. applause today i _ and resign. applause today i ask _ and resign. applause today i ask him - and resign. applause today i ask him to - and resign. applause today i ask him to do | and resign. applause i today i ask him to do the and resign. applause _ today i ask him to do the honourable thin- today i ask him to do the honourable thing and _ today i ask him to do the honourable thing and put the interests of the nation _ thing and put the interests of the nation before his own interests and before, _ nation before his own interests and before, in— nation before his own interests and before, in his own words, it does become — before, in his own words, it does become impossible for government to do its _ become impossible for government to do iisjob~ _ become impossible for government to do its 'ob. p, , become impossible for government to do its 'ob. , ~ , do its 'ob. does the prime minister think do its job. does the prime minister think there are _ do its job. does the prime minister think there are any _

do its job. does the prime minister think there are any circumstances i do its job. does the prime minister| think there are any circumstances in which _ think there are any circumstances in which he _ think there are any circumstances in which he should _ think there are any circumstances in which he should resign? _ think there are any circumstances in which he should resign?— which he should resign? laughter frankl , which he should resign? laughter frankly. mr— which he should resign? laughter frankly, mr speaker, _ which he should resign? laughter frankly, mr speaker, the _ which he should resign? laughter frankly, mr speaker, the job - which he should resign? laughter frankly, mr speaker, the job of - which he should resign? laughter frankly, mr speaker, the job of a i frankly, mr speaker, thejob of a prime minister in difficult circumstances when he has been handed a colossal mandate is to keep going and that is what i'm going to do. �* ., , ., h, do. and when it was the labour leader's turn, _ do. and when it was the labour leader's turn, he _ do. and when it was the labour leader's turn, he took - do. and when it was the labour leader's turn, he took aim - do. and when it was the labour leader's turn, he took aim at i do. and when it was the labour - leader's turn, he took aim at those in the cabinet.— in the cabinet. only in office because no _ in the cabinet. only in office because no one _ in the cabinet. only in office because no one else - in the cabinet. only in office because no one else is - in the cabinet. only in office - because no one else is prepared to base themselves any longer, the charge _ base themselves any longer, the charge of— base themselves any longer, the charge of the lightweight brigade! laughter have some self respect. in the middle — have some self respect. in the middle of— have some self respect. in the middle of a crisis, doesn't the country— middle of a crisis, doesn't the country deserve better than a z middle of a crisis, doesn't the country deserve better than a 2 list cast of— country deserve better than a 2 list cast of nodding dogs? the difference between this — cast of nodding dogs? the difference between this government _ cast of nodding dogs? the difference between this government and - cast of nodding dogs? the difference between this government and that i between this government and that opposition is we have a plan and they do not. and we are getting on with it a point they want to focus on this type of issue, we are going to get on with ourjobs. the to get on with our “obs. the scottish national_ to get on with ourjobs. the scottish national party leader at westminster is often remorselessly barracked by conservative mps. not

today. barracked by conservative mps. not toda . �* , , barracked by conservative mps. not toda. �*, ., today. let's face it, it is a minor miracle that _ today. let's face it, it is a minor miracle that the _ today. let's face it, it is a minor miracle that the prime - today. let's face it, it is a minor miracle that the prime minister| today. let's face it, it is a minor. miracle that the prime minister had even made — miracle that the prime minister had eveh made it— miracle that the prime minister had even made it through _ miracle that the prime minister had even made it through to _ miracle that the prime minister had even made it through to prime - even made it through to prime minister's _ even made it through to prime minister's questions _ even made it through to prime minister's questions and - even made it through to prime minister's questions and he i even made it through to prime . minister's questions and he really ought _ minister's questions and he really ought to— minister's questions and he really ought to see — minister's questions and he really ought to see the _ minister's questions and he really ought to see the faces _ minister's questions and he really ought to see the faces behind - minister's questions and he really ought to see the faces behind him because, — ought to see the faces behind him because, prime _ ought to see the faces behind him because, prime minister, - ought to see the faces behind him because, prime minister, it- ought to see the faces behind him because, prime minister, it really| because, prime minister, it really is oven _ because, prime minister, it really is oven the — because, prime minister, it really is over. the prime _ because, prime minister, it really is over. the prime minister- because, prime minister, it really is over. the prime minister is - is over. the prime minister is desperately— is over. the prime minister is desperately clinging - is over. the prime minister is desperately clinging on - is over. the prime minister is desperately clinging on to - is over. the prime minister is desperately clinging on to hisi is over. the prime minister is - desperately clinging on to his own fantasies — desperately clinging on to his own fantasies hut _ desperately clinging on to his own fantasies but the _ desperately clinging on to his own fantasies but the public _ desperately clinging on to his own fantasies but the public cannot - fantasies but the public cannot afford — fantasies but the public cannot afford to— fantasies but the public cannot afford to out _ fantasies but the public cannot afford to put up _ fantasies but the public cannot afford to put up with this - fantasies but the public cannot afford to put up with this farce| fantasies but the public cannot i afford to put up with this farce of afford to put up with this farce of a government— afford to put up with this farce of a government a _ afford to put up with this farce of a government a minute - afford to put up with this farce of a government a minute longer. i afford to put up with this farce of. a government a minute longer. till a government a minute longer. all day it a government a minute longer. day it felt at times like every ten minutes or so conservative mps were sending letters saying the prime minister should go. and just take a look at the language chosen by the now formerjustice minister victoria atkins as she resigned. are we witnessing the collapse of

the government? _ are we witnessing the collapse of the government? find _ are we witnessing the collapse of the government?— are we witnessing the collapse of the government? are we witnessing the collapse of the tovernment? �* ., ., ., the government? and from a letter to a resignation — the government? and from a letter to a resignation statement _ the government? and from a letter to a resignation statement from - the government? and from a letter to a resignation statement from the - the government? and from a letter toj a resignation statement from the man who just yesterday was boris johnson's health secretary. i call johnson's health secretary. i call sa'id johnson's health secretary. i call sajid javid- _ johnson's health secretary. i call sajid javid. have _ johnson's health secretary. i call sajid javid. have a _ johnson's health secretary. i call sajid javid. have a look - johnson's health secretary. i call sajid javid. have a look at - johnson's health secretary. i call sajid javid. have a look at the i johnson's health secretary. i call. sajid javid. have a look at the body [an . ua . e sajid javid. have a look at the body language at — sajid javid. have a look at the body language at the _ sajid javid. have a look at the body language at the conservative - sajid javid. have a look at the body i language at the conservative benches as you listen to mrjaved's words. treading the type were between loyalty and integrity has become impossible in recent months. and mr speaker, i will never risk losing my integrity. this week again, we have reason to question the truth and integrity of what we have all been told. and at some point we have to conclude that enough is enough. i believe that point is now. he conclude that enough is enough. i believe that point is now.- believe that point is now. he said he had been _ believe that point is now. he said he had been patient, _ believe that point is now. he said he had been patient, hoping - believe that point is now. he said i he had been patient, hoping things would improve. buti he had been patient, hoping things would improve.— would improve. but i do fear that the reset button _ would improve. but i do fear that the reset button can _ would improve. but i do fear that the reset button can only - would improve. but i do fear that the reset button can only work. would improve. but i do fear that l the reset button can only work are so many times. there is only so many times you can turn that machine on

and off before you realise that something is fundamentally wrong. and then there was this, a public laser—guided attack on those still in borisjohnson's cabinet. thea;r in boris johnson's cabinet. they will have their _ in boris johnson's cabinet. they will have their own _ in boris johnson's cabinet. they will have their own reasons - in borisjohnson's cabinet. tue: will have their own reasons but in borisjohnson's cabinet. tte: will have their own reasons but it is a choice. i knowjust how difficult that choice is. but let's be clear. not doing something is an active decision. i am deeply concerned about how the next generation will see the conservative party on our current course. flan t party on our current course. can i sa to party on our current course. can i say to the — party on our current course. can i say to the house, _ party on our current course. can i say to the house, there _ party on our current course. can i say to the house, there will- party on our current course. can i say to the house, there will be i party on our current course. can i j say to the house, there will be no more _ say to the house, there will be no more personal— say to the house, there will be no more personal statement - say to the house, there will be no more personal statement today. i more personal statement today. right-to-buy. _ more personal statement today. right—to—buy, boris! _ more personal statement today. right-to-buy, boris!— more personal statement today. right-to-buy, boris! tonight at the prime minister's _ right-to-buy, boris! tonight at the prime minister's most _ right-to-buy, boris! tonight at the prime minister's most senior- prime minister's most senior colleagues are telling him time is “p colleagues are telling him time is up to date firstly it was communities secretary michael gove. is the government collapsing? theh

is the government collapsing? then in the last hour, _ is the government collapsing? then in the last hour, the _ is the government collapsing? tiittzht in the last hour, the transport secretary, grant shapps. plenty more are doing the same.— are doing the same. prime minister, how is your — are doing the same. prime minister, how is your week— are doing the same. prime minister, how is your week going? _ are doing the same. prime minister, how is your week going? terrific. i are doing the same. prime minister, how is your week going? terrific. mr johnson faced _ how is your week going? terrific. mr johnson faced another— how is your week going? terrific. mr johnson faced another interrogation | johnson faced another interrogation first, the liaison committee of senior backbenchers who were keeping up senior backbenchers who were keeping up with the news.— up with the news. it has been re orted up with the news. it has been reported that _ up with the news. it has been reported that there _ up with the news. it has been reported that there is - up with the news. it has been reported that there is a - up with the news. it has been - reported that there is a delegation of your— reported that there is a delegation of your cabinet colleagues waiting in downing street, including the chief— in downing street, including the chief whip, transport secretary and your new _ chief whip, transport secretary and your new chancellor, waiting to tell your new chancellor, waiting to tell you when _ your new chancellor, waiting to tell you when you finish hit today that it's time _ you when you finish hit today that it's time for you to go. how will you respond to that? you it's time for you to go. how will you respond to that?— it's time for you to go. how will you respond to that? you are asking me to comment... _ you respond to that? you are asking me to comment... this _ you respond to that? you are asking j me to comment... this conversation will happen — me to comment... this conversation will happen in _ me to comment... this conversation will happen in a _ me to comment... this conversation will happen in a few _ me to comment... this conversation will happen in a few minutes. - me to comment... this conversation will happen in a few minutes. so - me to comment... this conversationj will happen in a few minutes. so you sa but will happen in a few minutes. so you say but i'm — will happen in a few minutes. so you say but i'm not _ will happen in a few minutes. so you say but i'm not going _ will happen in a few minutes. so you say but i'm not going to _ will happen in a few minutes. so you say but i'm not going to give - will happen in a few minutes. so you say but i'm not going to give a - say but i'm not going to give a running commentary on political events, i'm going to get on with governing the country. this events, i'm going to get on with governing the country.— governing the country. this is a ostcode governing the country. this is a postcode defined _ governing the country. this is a postcode defined by _ governing the country. this is a postcode defined by power. - governing the country. this is a - postcode defined by power. tonight it is shifting to. the end of boris johnson's premiership appears imminent. chris mason, bbc news,

westminster. borisjohnson has faced the highest number of ministerial resignations in 2a hours in british political history — that gives you an idea of the scale of the loss of support. one in five of all those conservative mps who held ministerialjobs or other official posts have now resigned. here are their names — all of them going since sajid javid, former health secretary, was the first to go about this time yesterday. they include one other cabinet minister, rishi sunak who resigned as chancellor, ministers and a number of ministerial aides. our deputy political editor vicki young looks at what's driving the discontent within the conservative party — and what might happen next. time to speak out. dozens of conservative ministers and mps have had enough. at some have been criticalfor months, others had enough. at some have been critical for months, others stayed loyal to borisjohnson but not any more. t loyal to boris johnson but not any more. . ., , , ., more. i have never done this before, it's not in my — more. i have never done this before, it's not in my jay _ more. i have never done this before, it's not in my jay nature _ more. i have never done this before, it's not in my jay nature to _ more. i have never done this before, it's not in my jay nature to go - more. i have never done this before,

it's not in my jay nature to go on - it's not in my jay nature to go on about the promise, i challenge them on policy rather than personalities but we have reached an end point point were constantly going from one crisis to another under this leadership and a reluctance to accept where those problems came from. we accept where those problems came from. ~ ., ., ., . ., ., from. we have got to concentrate on these issues — from. we have got to concentrate on these issues that _ from. we have got to concentrate on these issues that are _ from. we have got to concentrate on these issues that are affecting - these issues that are affecting people. — these issues that are affecting people, this sherrard has to stop. i feel people, this sherrard has to stop. feel for the people, this sherrard has to stop. i feel for the prime minister, people, this sherrard has to stop. i feelforthe prime minister, i really— feelforthe prime minister, i really do. _ feelforthe prime minister, i really do. i_ feelforthe prime minister, i really do, i like _ feelforthe prime minister, i really do, i like the - feelforthe prime minister, i really do, i like the man, - feelforthe prime minister, i really do, i like the man, i. feelforthe prime minister, i. really do, i like the man, i have feelforthe prime minister, i- really do, i like the man, i have a huge _ really do, i like the man, i have a huge amount— really do, i like the man, i have a huge amount of— really do, i like the man, i have a huge amount of respect - really do, i like the man, i have a huge amount of respect for- really do, i like the man, i have a huge amount of respect for him l really do, i like the man, i have a l huge amount of respect for him but really do, i like the man, i have a i huge amount of respect for him but i cannot— huge amount of respect for him but i cannot let _ huge amount of respect for him but i cannot let this — huge amount of respect for him but i cannot let this pass. _ huge amount of respect for him but i cannot let this pass. this _ huge amount of respect for him but i cannot let this pass. is a _ huge amount of respect for him but i cannot let this pass.— cannot let this pass. as a support drained away. _ cannot let this pass. as a support drained away, the _ cannot let this pass. as a support drained away, the prime - cannot let this pass. as a support | drained away, the prime minister's closest allies try their best to fight his corner. mr; closest allies try their best to fight his corner.— closest allies try their best to fight his corner. my message to colleagues _ fight his corner. my message to colleagues is — fight his corner. my message to colleagues is calm _ fight his corner. my message to colleagues is calm down, - fight his corner. my message to colleagues is calm down, calm l fight his corner. my message to - colleagues is calm down, calm down. are they overreacting? ibe colleagues is calm down, calm down. are they overreacting?— are they overreacting? be very careful where _ are they overreacting? be very careful where we _ are they overreacting? be very careful where we go _ are they overreacting? be very careful where we go here. - are they overreacting? be very careful where we go here. be l are they overreacting? be very i careful where we go here. be very careful where we go here. be very careful about bringing down a prime minister who won a very personal mandate from the british people in 2019. ., ., ., , mandate from the british people in 2019. . ., , ., 2019. liam fox has stayed loyal to every conservative _ 2019. liam fox has stayed loyal to every conservative leader - 2019. liam fox has stayed loyal to every conservative leader since i 2019. liam fox has stayed loyal to every conservative leader since he j every conservative leader since he was first elected in 1992 but he told me mrjohnson has squandered too many second chances. the told me mrjohnson has squandered too many second chances.— too many second chances. the way thins too many second chances. the way things have — too many second chances. the way things have been _ too many second chances. the way things have been handled, -

too many second chances. the way things have been handled, the i too many second chances. the way things have been handled, the wayj things have been handled, the way that lines constantly change, the way ministers therefore cannot with any confidence or repeat the line they are being given, i think all of this incremental in damages credibility so much that it is difficult to lead and i hope that for his own sake, but for the sake of the conservative party and the government and most importantly, the country, he goes quickly. the prime minister is rarely _ country, he goes quickly. the prime minister is rarely get _ country, he goes quickly. the prime minister is rarely get to _ country, he goes quickly. the prime minister is rarely get to choose i country, he goes quickly. the prime minister is rarely get to choose how| minister is rarely get to choose how they leave office. margaret thatcher promised to fight on but i cabinet told her it was time to go. john major survived rebellions, staggered to an election and was beaten in a landslide. david cameron recognised that losing the eu referendum was a resigning matter. theresa may won a vote of confidence but left a few months later. tt’s vote of confidence but left a few months later.— months later. it's obviously incredible _ months later. it's obviously incredible tough _ months later. it's obviously incredible tough on - months later. it's obviously incredible tough on them i months later. it's obviously - incredible tough on them personally, these things normally built up over a long period of time but i think most people who have done the job get to a point where they recognise that time is up. and that it is not

actually in their own interests in terms of their legacy or their party's interest terms of their legacy or their pa rty�*s interest or terms of their legacy or their party's interest or the country's for them to carry on. t party's interest or the country's for them to carry on.— party's interest or the country's for them to carry on. i can announce the parliamentary _ for them to carry on. i can announce the parliamentary party _ for them to carry on. i can announce the parliamentary party does - for them to carry on. i can announce the parliamentary party does have i the parliamentary party does have confidence... the parliamentary party does have confidence. . ._ confidence... this group of mps could have _ confidence... this group of mps could have a — confidence... this group of mps could have a crucial _ confidence... this group of mps could have a crucial role - confidence... this group of mps could have a crucial role to i confidence... this group of mps could have a crucial role to play| confidence... this group of mps. could have a crucial role to play if borisjohnson could have a crucial role to play if boris johnson refuses could have a crucial role to play if borisjohnson refuses to leave. at the 1922 committee could organise another vote of confidence. boris johnson won the conservatives their biggest election victory in more than 30 years, many mps backed him because they wanted to make sure brexit happened. but he has not been able to translate that success on the campaign trail into government and many in the third party have now turned against him fearing he was tarnishing their reputation as well as his own. he can drag out his departure but few think boris johnson as got long left number 10. before our next report, let's go live to downing street and this is what is happening there at number 10. as far as we know, those cabinet

ministers are still inside number 10 talking to the prime minister offering him one message, it's time to go. the other thing to note is that the chairman of the influential 1922 committee, the committee of tory backbench mps, sir graham brady, he has apparently gone to see the prime minister to offer what reports are calling wise counsel. that is the latest from downing street where it is all happening tonight, the future of the prime minister being decided. that is a world away from what was happening just two and a half years ago when borisjohnson won a thumping election victory, giving him an 80 seat majority in the house of commons. that victory, including gains in former labour stronghold strongholds meant he enjoyed the support of the overwhelming majority of tory mps. today, as we have seen, that has all changed. all day, letters of resignation have been

pouring in. backbenchers have withdrawn their support. we have been analysing their letters and the words they have chosen. these are the most common words used, some keep recurring, like government and country, but take a closer look and you get a sense of what is worrying these tory mps. words like values and integrity, just down here. that is what politicians feel. what about tory supporters? alex forsyth reports from wiltshire. summer in salisbury, and things might seem serene. this city's in the heart of wiltshire, fairly solid tory turf. the party holds all seven parliamentary seats. but at this local bistro, four conservatives from across the county have been watching closely as the tension unfurls in westminster. personally, i'm very disappointed in the members as well. last night, i was talking to quite a few residents and they were stalwart... you know, they are boris supporters, ok, a lot of people didn't mind

he had a beer or had done something like that. but this, being lied to, this is a totally different game. here, they say downing street's response to allegations about the deputy chief whip was the final straw in a longer line of events that has led them to question the party's leadership. i think what has happened recently has been a kind of final moral and emotional trigger for people to say enough is enough. any mps who continue to support him are complicit in bringing the conservative party into disrepute. whatever electoral appeal he did have, and, you know, we can't forget that he did deliver brexit, whatever your views on that are. but, quite frankly, he has had his day the feedback i get from residents, you know, it's very much that we can't continue to support the conservatives. so, it's a really dark time for the party but i'm hoping that if we do see a change then that will at least

give us some credibility back. these are a snapshot of views from the tory southern heartlands, but richard, county council leader and party member for more than 25 years, says he has heard similar from colleagues more widely. the feel was that the lack of honesty was just eroding everyone's confidence, and that, in itself, it was too corrosive. it wasn't some sort of remainer plot. it was people saying, i'm sorry, the character is just not there. what a different picture just two and a half years ago. borisjohnson on the campaign trail here, before he swept to election victory. even now, some agree he does still have a public mandate. ilike him. i know a lot of people don't. but i don't want him to go. iwas, you know, for him. but at the moment i'm just not sure. | i can't see else that could look| after the country like boris has.

but even in this tory territory there is wavering. alex forsyth, bbc news, wiltshire. our political editor chris mason joins us now. when history tells us that when cabinet ministers stream into number 10, usually there is only one real outcome?— 10, usually there is only one real outcome? ,, . , , ., outcome? quite, that is exactly what we are witnessing _ outcome? quite, that is exactly what we are witnessing right _ outcome? quite, that is exactly what we are witnessing right now. - outcome? quite, that is exactly what we are witnessing right now. not i we are witnessing right now. not just that, as you mentioned a few moments ago, sir graham brady, the chairman of the backbench group of conservative mps, known as the 1922 committee, heading into downing street in just the last couple of minutes. offering, we are told, wise counsel. which is westminster speak for telling the prime minister the time is up, you have lost the party, you have got to go. in downing street right now are two groups of senior ministers. there are those that are going in there to sayjust

that are going in there to sayjust that to borisjohnson, that he should resign, there are others who are saying, no, reflecting the voices we hear from alex forsyth, saying that you have a mandate from the last general election, a new prime minister would not have that mandate, it may bring forward a general election sooner, rather than later. they are the arguments going on right now at the heart of government, which will shape what borisjohnson government, which will shape what boris johnson chooses government, which will shape what borisjohnson chooses to do next. there are some here pondering but as soon as this evening mrjohnson may decide to resign. were he not to do that, some of those ministers that want him to may resign themselves, and as soon as next week, you could see a move from backbenchers to try to remove him via a vote of confidence. things are very fluid and this day could have quite a few hours left in it yet. things are very fluid, so we will be back with chris whenever we need to

in this fast—moving story. former chancellor rishi sunak�*s shock resignation letter revealed that he and borisjohnson fundamentally disagreed on the handling of the economy. his successor, nadhim zahawi, may be closer in ideology to the prime minister, having said "nothing is off the table" in terms of cutting taxes. but what economic situation has he inherited? our economics editor, faisal islam, is here to explain. the new chancellor, nadhim zahawi, has a very difficult in—tray to deal with, if he gets the chance. first up in the economy is the fact that is slowing to a halt, and plausibly into a recession as the oecd and others have forecast recently the slowest of the major economies next year. the chancellor acknowledged this challenge this morning — perhaps a hint of action, some sort of stimulus? the problem is of course the rate of price rises — inflation at a lto—year high, and notjust heading higher, but again according to outside forecasters, and the bank

of england governor himself, fears that inflation here in the uk will remain more stubborn, staying higher for longer. clearly the principal driver behind this has been energy prices and we have been shown an energy industry calculation that bills under the energy price cap for an average household this winter will top £3000 a year for all types. direct debit, payments of the entire bill — pre—payment metre bills are the equivalent of a £50 top up lasting just four days, rather than closer to a fortnight. but that would be before government supprt. there would be the freezing of when income tax will be paid, but this comes only three months after a much bigger national insurance rise and a freezing of income tax thresholds that has seen millions of taxpayers

pushed into paying higher tax breaks. the mood music from the chancellor this morning was that nothing was off the table and he would review major tax and spending decisions. here are some of the options. from fast tracking a planned income tax cut, emergency vat cuts, cancelling some of the planned rises in business taxes and more direct cost of living support over the next year. but would that mean more borrowing? the former chancellor rishi sunak felt that the prime minister should level with britain about tough times and that extra government borrowing risked making inflation worse. the prime minister, if he survives, or even to survive, might be tempted to alter course on that. our top story this evening. the prime minister's authority is draining away — resignation after resignation from government, and a loss of support among his backbenchers too.

it is written entirely new proportions out the busy resignations yesterday. rishi sunak the chancellor, sajid javid the health secretary, and to date the latest count, 37 individual resignations from the boris johnson's government. that includes those cabinet ministers, it includes junior ministers, it includes ministerial aides, junior ministers, it includes ministerialaides, parliamentary private secretaries, other as to a call. 37 of them. and it has been creeping up throughout the day, so there is a logistical problem there is a logistical problem therefore the prime minister, who is now in downing street talking to colleagues. a logistical problem, which is that of course he has got jobs to fill. i understand it is now 37, so as i said, it is taking up as we go along. the ministers are inside the building talking to boris johnson. michael gove is the latest of the senior ministers to tell

borisjohnson that he should be resigning. so, we are in a position per week and basically just resigning. so, we are in a position per week and basicallyjust recap a little bit on the letters of confidence also that have been —— no confidence also that have been —— no confidence that have been submitted by conservative mps are to a gentleman called sir graham brady, chairman of the 1922 committee, a backbench conservative mp committee. he is also in downing street night now, which is a rather ominous sign, probably, for borisjohnson. and of course it follows earlier to take sajid javid, the health secretary telling the pm that the problem starts at the top, and that is not going to change. his resignation statement in the house of commons earlier on. so, when we think about the crisis that borisjohnson is now facing, he is in there with this graham brady, who represent all of the conservative backbenchers, probably delivering a message, we

think, that the level of support for the prime minister as leader of the party and prime minister has a really kind of evaporated in the last 211 hours or so. other that would be enough to convince a prime minister that he needs to step down of his own accord remains to be seen, because the evidence to give the parliamentary committee earlier, the parliamentary committee earlier, the liaison committee, it was pretty forthright, and he seemed to be simply saying, no matter what is going on outside of the committee room, and prime minister, i have a majority of 80, i secured a very big man it has been called a personal mandate but some of his supporters, and that is something that simply trumps any disquiet that his own mps have, the fact that he has the people's vote, as he calls it. so, these are the dynamics of the debate as we speak, in westminster, as you can imagine, is a problem with all kinds of rumour and turbulence, and

questions about whether boris johnson can even make it to tomorrow, as prime minister of the united kingdom. he is determined to do so, but as i say, the next few of us will be absolutely crucial in the way this crisis absolve itself. so, right now, over in the house of commons, mps milling around those lobbies and telling our colleagues that they are pretty much convinced that they are pretty much convinced that they are pretty much convinced that the time has come for boris johnson to step down. but in downing street, the debate having a different kind of dynamic, involving people who have been very staunch supporters of the prime minister, including nadeem doris, the culture secretary. so what is the latest intelligence? not too far away from you, rob, but in a different world over there to port it is in downing street. what is the latest

intelligence?— street. what is the latest intelligence? street. what is the latest intellitence? , ., intelligence? the first thing to sa , i intelligence? the first thing to say. i think— intelligence? the first thing to say, i think the _ intelligence? the first thing to say, i think the first _ intelligence? the first thing to say, i think the first public i intelligence? the first thing to | say, i think the first public met around here in the 1990s. i have never seen it take anything quite like this, what i mean by that is, and it comes to your point about the latest intelligence, is that you just have this palpable sense of the prime minister's authority and power just ebbing away as his government collapses and crumbles, and you just keep adding more and more to that. and i think a sort of cut through what you were seeing in some ways, the prime minister now faces sort of a start position, because he has been told by senior ministers that it's time for him to resign, and one presumes that this gentleman you mention, graham brady, who represents conservative mps who are not the government, that he has trouble telling him, you have lost confidence of the party. so, the prime minister in many ways doesn't do have many option. you could either choose to resign or fight on

and risk losing a no—confidence vote, because presumably he is also being told, we in the conservative party are prepared to change the rules in order to hold another contest if you don't walk away. flan contest if you don't walk away. can we return to _ contest if you don't walk away. can we return to that phrase, rob, which is ringing around westminster here, you mention should graham brady, the backbench representative. he is going to see the pm, and i quote, to offer wise counsel. in the past, and you had discussed and i have been witness to some of these, if the chairman of the 1922 committee, really, the most influential person on the back benches, visits the prime minister is to say the game is up, normally the game is up. this prime minister doesn't abide by the normal rules, but you still think that sir graham holds up a public? it is not so much cover, its just

pure maths, here. you're absolutely right, borisjohnson is not a conventional buy minister, but in the end, if you can't win a vote of no confidence and graham brady says we are going to hold one, that would be it. i mean, there is not much you could do. you could set you want to tough it out, but if he doesn't have the numbers, if borisjohnson isn't confident that he could win another no—confidence vote, that is the end of the game. i heard it described as one fellow political journalist as borisjohnson was like a chess player that has just lost most of the places, hejust has player that has just lost most of the places, he just has a player that has just lost most of the places, hejust has a king on the places, hejust has a king on the board, and there are very few moves he can make, none of the good ones. �* . , , , ., , ones. bear with us, because at this oint we ones. bear with us, because at this point we are _ ones. bear with us, because at this point we are going _ ones. bear with us, because at this point we are going to _ ones. bear with us, because at this point we are going to post - ones. bear with us, because at this point we are going to post the i point we are going to post the coverage for some of our viewers anyway, he will be able to watch focus on africa. welcome to bbc news.

rob is still with us. forgive me for interrupting you there. at this stage, it is now 6:30pm here at westminster and this crisis has now been bubbling at pretty full force for over 211 hours the point about the maths very clearly and obviously the maths very clearly and obviously the prime minister is facing the loss of a vote of confidence. that will be it. that speaks for itself. but in the meantime because the rules of not changed yet, in the in the meantime the prime minister will still be trying to deploy the considerable influence that he has with the parliamentary party and of course his patronage in terms of jobs and all the rest of it. how do you think you will be trying to play that? �* ., , ., , that? i'm not sure that he is even able to- -- — that? i'm not sure that he is even able to... not — that? i'm not sure that he is even able to... not sure _ that? i'm not sure that he is even able to... not sure he's _ that? i'm not sure that he is even able to... not sure he's even i that? i'm not sure that he is even j able to... not sure he's even able to do that at this stage because he is so busy holding meetings with people who want him to resign. but you are absolutely right. the only choice he has if he wants to stay on

is to persuade those who are not an