The roll call of rebels and resignations continues to grow, as pressure increases on Keir Starmer. The first ministerial resignation was confirmed prior to a Cabinet meeting in Number Ten at 09:30. Communities minister Miatta Fahnbulleh (Peckham) wrote: "Our country faces enormous challenges and people are crying out for the scale of change that this requires. The public does not believe that you can lead this change – and nor do I".
Starmer survived the Cabinet meeting relatively unscathed by all accounts, but he is reported to have refused point blank to meet with a group of ministers after the meeting. The group apparently wanted to discuss his leadership. Is he in denial? Many of those in attendance were pictured entering Downing Street in good spirits and all smiles, in particular Dave Lammy, but also Peter Kyle, Darren Jones, Liz Kendall and Lord Hermer. On the other hand, Wes Streeting and Ed Miliband arrived stony-faced. Game faces?
More than three hours then passed, before Jess Phillips (Birmingham Yardley) quit her role as safeguarding minister. She ended her resignation statement thus: "I'm not seeing the change I think I, and the country expect, and so cannot continue to serve as a minister under the current leadership".
Less than 45 minutes later a third minister resigned. Alex Davies-Jones (Pontypridd), victims minister, wrote: "I implore you to act in the country's interest and set out a timetable for your departure".
There was another gap until the next resignation, with health minister Zubir Ahmed (Glasgow South West) breaking the news at 16:28: "It is clear from recent days, that the public across the UK has now irretrievably lost confidence in you as prime minister". Ahmed is the second resignation from Wes Streeting's department, following yesterday's departure of Joe Morris.
We will update this page if the resignations continue this evening.
