Attorney General Suella Braverman has said “it’s time to go” for Boris Johnson.
The Cabinet minister, who has previously been a staunch supporter of the Prime Minister, told Peston on ITV that he had handled matters “appallingly” in recent days.
She said: “The balance has tipped now in favour of saying that the Prime Minister – it pains me to say it – but it’s time to go.”
She said she will put her name into the ring if there is a leadership contest.
Suella Braverman
Oli Scarff
Ms Braverman added that despite calling for the Prime Minister to quit, she will continue in her role.
She told Peston on ITV: “My first duty is to the country, Robert, and as attorney I’m the senior law officer.
“And we’re in a crisis and I have statutory legal and constitutional duties…
“I don’t want to resign because I have that duty. We need an attorney in government.”
Asked whether she recognises that Boris Johnson will likely sack her, she said: “That is his choice, and I will do whatever the Prime Minister asks me to do.”
The PM 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 – as well as Ms Braverman’s demand.
The withdrawal of the attorney general’s support marks a significant shift by the QC, who was elected as MP for Fareham in May 2015 before being appointed as the top legal official by Mr Johnson in February 2020.
She became the first Cabinet-level minister to take maternity leave and was reappointed to her ministerial position in September.
Special legislation had to be passed by Parliament to enable her to take time off from her ministerial duties.