Boris Johnson was today challenged by the Twickenham MP, Munira Wilson, to 'get over his terror' about losing the perks of high office and resign.

The MP was speaking at Prime Minister's Questions where she said it was time for Mr Johnson to follow his own advice and admit his time is up.

Speaking to the Commons, she said: "The Prime Minister once wrote: 'It is a wonderful and necessary fact of political biology that we never know when our time is up. Long after it is obvious to everyone that we are goners we continue to believe it is our duty to hang on to the perks and privileges of our posts. In reality we are just terrified of the comedown'."

She then asked: "So for the sake of this great country, will the Prime Minister heed the advice of his former self, get over his terror, and do the decent thing?"

Mr Johnson rejected all calls to go, including from Tory MPs on the backbenches, saying: "When things are tough, of course people turn their fire on the leader of the country.

"It my job to get on and deliver our manifesto, which we are, and deliver on the mandate on which I was elected, to get this country through tough times just as we did with Covid."

The Richmond Park MP, Sarah Olney, joined the calls for resignation amid an exodus of ministers, saying: "Ministers who have defended the PM's dishonest and shameful conduct for months are now abandoning the sinking ship at a time when people need them most.

"Javid and Sunak's resignations have left an inexperienced Chancellor and Health Secretary to guide the public through the worst cost-of-living and healthcare crises in a generation.

"While I am glad that they have finally seen sense, Ministers have timed their resignations to have maximum political impact without a thought for the public's needs. Boris Johnson must resign, but his supporters must also stop playing politics while regular people suffer."