Downing Street resignations: Reactions to a dramatic day of departures from Number 10
Tory MP Stuart Anderson praises the PM's "quick action" following Sue Gray's report - however, Labour's Chris Bryant said Number 10 was more like "Drowning Street".
Thursday 3 February 2022 22:30, UK
Conservative MPs have jumped to the defence of Boris Johnson following a day of resignations, while Labour politicians criticise their opposition with jibes like "Drowning Street".
Mr Johnson's chief of staff, Dan Rosenfield, resigned, alongside the prime minister's principal private secretary Martin Reynolds, press chief Jack Doyle and policy chief Munira Mirza.
Sources inside the government told Sky News Political Editor Beth Rigby that the three men had "other difficulties" around them - including to do with the parties held in Downing Street.
Ms Mirza stood down over Mr Johnson's refusal to apologise over remarks he made about Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer earlier this week.
Stuart Anderson, the Conservative MP for Wolverhampton South West since 2019, said: "On Monday @BorisJohnson promised MPs change. Tonight we see that change starting to happen and I welcome this quick action by the Prime Minister."
Other members of the 2019 intake tweeted similar messages, supporting the prime minister for the four people resigning from Number 10 today.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries tweeted that she was "absolutely delighted" to see MP Andrew Griffith replace Ms Mirza as policy in Downing Street.
Mr Griffith previously worked as Sky's chief financial officer, but left when he started to work for Mr Johnson in 2019 before becoming an MP.
And Michael Fabricant, who has been a Conservative member of parliament since 1992, tweeted: "The PM promised changes to the No10 operation at the 1922 on Monday, and it's good to see action is now swiftly being taken."
Labour's deputy leader, Angela Rayner, said: "No amount of reorganising Downing Street can clean up the sleaze that comes straight from the top. With his senior advisers and aides quitting, perhaps it is finally time for him to look in the mirror and consider if he might just be the problem. It is time to go."
Shadow Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: "Tonight's Twitter feed is like a Who's Who of which Tory MPs are gullible enough to parrot the loyalist lines from (what's left of) Number 10."
Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: "@BorisJohnson has lost his chief of staff, director of comms, director of policy and private secretary in a day! But most of all he has lost his way…. Go now so the county can steer a course back to normality."
Two more senior officials quit Number 10 in mass exodus amid partygate fallout
Labour MP for the Rhondda Chris Bryant, simply tweeted: "Drowning Street."
Reacting to the front pages of Friday's newspapers, Labour's Luke Pollard said: "Resign."
In the case of Ms Mirza, a government source told Sky News: "I agree with her, I think he should have apologised".
Another ally of Mr Johnson told Beth Rigby: "The prime minister's under siege."
Mr Johnson's former chief aide Dominic Cummings said: "Moral courage from Munira who has done her best to make progress with a professional team throughout the horror since 11/20.
"It's also an unmistakable signal the bunker is collapsing & *this PM is finished*. Flicker of moral courage from Cabinet & Cabinet Office asap please."
He added: "Pretty soon there will be a mad scramble & ministers will be kicking themselves hitting their heads saying 'WHY didn't I move faster arghhh'.
"Now's your moment, find a flicker of moral courage & 'push what is falling'."