Michael Gove, arguable the best housing secretary for some years, has been sacked from his job after joining a chorus of Tory cabinet ministers calling on the PM to resign.

During a fast-moving day in politics which has seen over 40 MPs quit the government or withdraw their support for the Prime Minister, DLUHC boss Michael Gove had called for Boris Johnson to step down while one of his ministers, Stuart James, resigned his post.

Another housing minister, Kemi Badenoch, was one of five ministers to call for Boris Johnson to consider his position, leaving just Eddie Hughes '� who remained loyal on Twitter throughout the day '� sticking to the official line.

The other four ministers who signed the letter but who work at other departments were Julia Lopez, Lee Rowley, Neil O'Brien and Alex Burghart.

Resignation letter

In his resignation letter James, which has only worked as a housing minister since February, said: 'It is with sadness that I am resigning as Housing Minister.

'I pay tribute to all my ministerial colleagues, officials, and civil servants in the Department and the wider sector.

'I look forward to continuing to serve my constituents in Pudsey, Horsforth, and Aireborough.'�

But his letter to the Prime Minister also admits that his loyalty to the party and Johnson had '�overidden his judgement' and that: 'there comes a time when you have to look at your own personal integrity and that time is now'�, he said.

The whole spectacle of the Johnson government imploding began last week when former housing minister Christopher Pincher resigned from his job as a government whip after admitting to '�embarrassing himself' after drinking too much at a party in London.

It later transpired that he had groped two junior Conservative MPs and activists and been reported by other MPs in attendance at the gathering.