UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has dismissed Leveling Up, Housing and Communities Secretary Michael Gove amid a wave of resignations of senior cabinet officials and calls for the PM himself to step down. Downing Street confirmed the decision to the media.
Gove was previously seen as one of Johnson’s main allies. According to British media, Johnson sacked Gove on Wednesday evening, shortly after Gove urged him to step down as prime minister.
The BBC quoted a government source who called Gove “a snake who is not with you on any of the big arguments who then gleefully tells the press the leader has to go.”
Gove has not yet made a public statement on the matter.
Johnson aide James Duddridge told Sky News that the prime minister “will fight on,” refusing to resign despite the mounting pressure to do so. “He has a 14-million mandate and so much to do for the country,” Duddridge said.