UK

Boris Johnson sacks Michael Gove – one of the first serving cabinet members to wield the knife

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has been sacked by Boris Johnson.

It is understood Mr Gove was one of the first serving cabinet ministers to indicate he was unhappy with the prime minister staying in his post.

The prime minister vowed to “keep going” on Wednesday despite the raft of departures, including the exit of his former health secretary Sajid Javid and chancellor Rishi Sunak.

Politics Hub: Boris Johnson tells cabinet ministers ‘no, I’m not going’

But Sky News’ deputy political editor Sam Coates had said there were suggestions Mr Gove was weighing up going to see Mr Johnson to tell him his time is up. The Daily Mail reported he had already made his visit to tell Mr Johnson to go.

Asked if Mr Gove had paid him a visit earlier, Mr Johnson said he would not giving a “running commentary”.

Mr Johnson has faced a slew of resignations since Tuesday after Downing Street admitted the prime minister had known about allegations of inappropriate behaviour by disgraced MP Chris Pincher in 2019 before hiring him as deputy chief whip in February.

Ministers had been sent out to defend Mr Johnson and said he did not know about any “specific” allegations.

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