The prime minister fired Levelling-Up’s secretary as several ministers urged him to step down and choose a “more dignified departure” than being forced out by a second confidence vote.
Mr Gove famously torpedoed Mr Johnson’s leadership bid in 2016 by withdrawing his support for him at the 11th hour and throwing his hat into the leadership race himself.
Danny Kruger, Private Parliamentary Secretary to Mr Gove’s Department, has resigned in solidarity with Mr Gove.
He said in his resignation tweet: “I am indeed sorry to hear that Michael Gove has been fired by the Prime Minister. As I said to No. 10 earlier today, it should be the Prime Minister who leaves office.
In the midst of the chaos in the heart of the government on Wednesday evening, Minister of Culture Nadine Dorries tweeted: “The priority of the prime minister is to stabilize the government, to set out a clear direction for the country and continue to comply with of the promises he has made and for which the British audience voted. †
On Wednesday evening, Mr Johnson defiantly rejected calls from cabinet colleagues to opt for a “more dignified exit” from No10 after a major uprising by Tory MPs.
A delegation of cabinet ministers went to Downing Street to encourage the prime minister to quit rather than be forced into a second confidence vote.
But in a day of extraordinary drama, Johnson rejected their pleas on Wednesday night and vowed to continue to rule.
However, more than 30 ministers, parliamentary assistants and government envoys resigned in just 24 hours after the prime minister’s integrity was re-examined in his handling of the scandal over ex-deputy head whip Chris Pincher who was accused of two men in a private members club.
As Mr Johnson’s premiership was rocked by a second storm so soon after the partygate scandal, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told Mr Johnson on Wednesday evening that he has “little chance of leading a majority of the parliamentary party” In a second showdown.
He advised the prime minister that “a more dignified departure would be if he set his own timetable for an early but orderly departure”.
One of Johnson’s closest allies, Minister of the Interior Priti Patel, also spoke with him on Wednesday evening and transferred him to the overwhelming views of the parliamentary party that has strongly opposed him for the past 24 hours.
Northern Ireland Minister Brandon Lewis, Wales Secretary Simon Hart and Home Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng are said to be among cabinet ministers who said Johnson should resign.
But Culture Minister Dorries confirmed that she continued to support the Prime Minister when she arrived at number 10, as did Brexit Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Johnson himself told his colleagues there would be “chaos” if he quit and the party would almost certainly lose the next election, according to a source close to the prime minister.
He added that Mr Johnson “continued to focus on delivering for the public” and addressing the “hugely important issues facing the country”.
Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab also remained loyal to Mr Johnson, defending him at a 1922 backbench committee meeting.
However, Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the powerful Conservative committee of backbench MPs from 1922, is said to have visited Downing Street to put forward the party’s views, following the sitting in parliament dominated by MPs who had Mr Johnson summoned to leave.
If Mr. Johnson refuses to go, his fate will eventually be with the Tory MPs, if the rules of the 1922 committee are changed to allow a new vote of trust within 12 months, possibly within weeks or even days.
The committee’s board did not make any immediate rule changes on Wednesday, but has scheduled executive committee elections for Monday, with results later in the evening.
The new executive could decide to change the rules, with Mr Johnson then facing another battle to remain in office.