Bim Afolami: Tory vice chair resigns from party role live on air

A Conservative party vice chair has resigned his position live on air, saying he does not believe Boris Johnson has the support of the party or country any longer.

Mr Johnson was rocked by the resignations of two senior Cabinet ministers, Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, and Sajid Javid, the Health and Social Care Secretary, on Tuesday evening.

Bim Afolami, the MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, said live on air he would be resigning his party position of Conservatives’ vice chair for youth.

He called for Mr Johnson to step down after losing the support of “two of his closest Cabinet colleagues”.

Speaking on Talk TV, Mr Afolami spoke of the importance of integrity: “I think that what’s been very sad over recent allegations about the former deputy chief whip and other things that have happened over recent weeks, I just don’t think the prime minister has, not just my support, but the support of the party or the country anymore.

“And I think for that reason he should step down.”

He added: “I think you have to resign because I can’t serve under the prime minister, but I say that with regret because I think the Government has done some great things”.

Previously Mr Afolami, who was appointed to the internal party role in February, had backed Mr Johnson in June’s confidence vote.

At the time, he tweeted: “PM has my full support”.

Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid both resigned on Tuesday evening only minutes after Mr Johnson apologised for his handling of the Chris Pincher row.

Their resignations mean that 28 ministers have quit from Mr Johnson’s Government since he took office.

However, allies of other senior members of the Government have insisted they will not resign from their posts.

Those said to be remaining loyal to Mr Johnson include Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, the Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, and Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary.