Rishi Sunak and the Tory high command are nervously waiting to see if more Boris Johnson allies quit as MPs – amid fears that the feud is set to plunge the party into civil war.
Johnson supporters claim two more MPs are on “resignation watch” after Nadine Dorries and Nigel Adams joined the former prime minister in quitting with immediate effect and triggering by-elections.
But some government loyalists think support for the rebellion is stalling. Claims by Johnson’s camp that up to six more MPs were poised to quit have failed to materialise so far.
Some of Mr Johnson’s closest allies – led by the newly knighted Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg – have publicly declared they are not quitting, despite offering vocal support for the former PM.
Writing in The Mail on Sunday, Sir Jacob said: “I am not, unlike some of my fellow Boris admirers, resigning my Commons seat. I will fight my North East Somerset seat at the next election and campaign for a Conservative victory nationally.”
He also claimed Mr Johnson’s resignation – and his suggestion that he might fight another seat at the next election – “puts him in pole position to return as Conservative leader if a vacancy should arise”.
In his angry resignation statement on Friday evening, Mr Johnson said: “It is very sad to be leaving parliament – at least for now.”
Issuing a direct threat to Mr Sunak, Sir Jacob added: “I would most strongly warn Conservative Party managers against any attempt to block Boris if he seeks the party nomination in another seat.
“Any attempt to do so would shatter our fragile party unity and plunge the Conservatives into civil war.”