This really feels like a sign to me.' Another former colleague said her exit was 'very worrying' for Mr Johnson. I'm sorry to see her leave government, and I'll miss working with her.'ДЄ source who has worked closely with Ms Mirza said: 'I never thought Munira would go, even if she were demoted to the most junior spad ever. He said: 'With regard to the news about Munira, the first thing to say is she was a valued colleague and I very much enjoyed working with her. Speaking at a press conference on the energy price cap riseВ on Thursday afternoon, Rishi Sunak said that if he was 'being honest' he would not have made the comment that Mr Johnson did. He stressed he was not suggesting Sir Keir had 'personal involvement', but highlighted that he 'apologised for the CPS's handling of that issue during his tenure'. Mr Johnson on Thursday night said he did not agree that his comments were 'inappropriate and partisan'. 'You tried to clarify your position today but, despite my urging, you did not apologise for the misleading impression you gave.' This was not the usual cut and thrust of politics it was an inappropriate and partisan reference to a horrendous case of child sex abuse. 'There was no fair or reasonable basis for that assertion. In her resignation letter, seen by The Spectator, Ms Mirza wrote: 'I believe it was wrong for you to imply this week that Keir Starmer was personally responsible for allowing Jimmy Savile to escape justice. While he disavowed the claim, he stopped short of an apology. Mr Johnson at first doubled down on his comments despite a backlash, but backtracked in an interview on Thursday. She criticised him over his 'inappropriate and partisan' jibe at Sir Keir earlier this week, when he accused the Labour leader of 'failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile' during his time as Director of Public Prosecutions. The resignation of Ms Mirza, who had worked with Mr Johnson since his City Hall days, was seen as a bruising loss.

The Telegraph revealed this week that Antonia Romeo, one of Britain's most senior female civil servants, had decided against applying for the newly created Permanent Secretary role.ДЄmid Westminster intrigue about the Prime Minister's leadership, Simon Clarke, the chief secretary to the Treasury, told Channel 4 News: 'I think the last days of Rome were more fun.' Speculation grew that Mr Johnson could struggle to fill the vacant jobs.

However, it was claimed by another Whitehall insider that the shock departure of Ms Mirza had encouraged No 10 to bring forward plans for the overhaul, which had been due to be unveiled next week. On Friday morning, The Telegraph understands Elena Narozanski, a No 10 Policy Unit memberВ also resigned. Number 10 went on to announce that Dan Rosenfield, Mr Johnson's chief of staff, and Martin Reynolds, his Principal Private Secretary, would leave in the coming weeks.ДЄ government source insisted their departures were part of a shake-up Mr Johnson promised MPs in the wake of the Sue Gray report on Monday. It comes as Tory whips are understood to be braced for ministerial resignations, with Alex Chalk, the Solicitor General, identified by a government source as someone who could quit because of unhappiness about the handling of 'partygate'. Jack Doyle, Mr Johnson's director of communications, later on Thursday night confirmed his exit, telling colleagues that the events of recent weeks had 'taken a terrible toll on my family life'. Munira Mirza, a long-term ally, quit as Downing Street head of policy after the Prime Minister's 'inappropriate and partisan' attack on Sir Keir Starmer over Jimmy Savile. Five of Boris Johnson's most senior aides have resigned within 24 hours in the wake of the 'partygate' scandal which continues to engulf his premiership.

Jack smith facebook