Oris Johnson was hit by a series of layoffs before 7:30 am on Thursday, with Cabinet Secretary Brandon Lewis being the first to resign.
He was quickly followed by Treasury Secretary Helen Whately, Security Secretary Damian Hinds, Science Secretary George Freeman and Pensions Secretary Guy Opperman.
In a resignation letter posted to Twitter at 6:47am, Mr Lewis said he “cannot sacrifice my personal integrity to defend things as they are”.
He told Mr Johnson, “I have given you and those around you the benefit of the doubt. I have gone out and defended this government both publicly and privately. But we are now past the point of no return.”
Freeman tweeted: “The chaos in No10, the collapse of cabinet collective responsibility, the abolition of the ministerial code, the defense of impropriety and opposition to parliament are all affronts to the conservatism I believe in and stand for. ”
He added that it was “a great honor to serve my country, the crown and the conservative party in government”.
It comes after Mr Johnson was dramatically fired Michael Gove as he struggled to stay in No10 despite a major uprising by Tory MPs.
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.
Minutes later, Simon Hart became the third minister to resign from Boris Johnson’s government and resign from his post as Secretary of Wales.
He wrote in his letter of resignation: “I have never been a big fan of the resignation of ministers as the best means of enforcing change.
“Colleagues, both private and public, have gone out of their way to help you turn the ship, but with sadness I feel we have passed the point where this is possible.”
Edward Argar, who is considered a super-loyalist of Boris, joined Mr Hart shortly after resigning from his post as state health minister.
Amid the chaos at the heart of the government on Wednesday night, Culture Minister Nadine Dorries tweeted: “The Prime Minister’s priority is to stabilize the government, set a clear direction for the country and continue to deliver of the promises he has made and which the British public has voted for. †
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 test.
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, Home Secretary Priti Patel, also spoke to him on Wednesday night, conveying 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 ultimately rest with Tory MPs, if the 1922 committee rules are changed to allow for another confidence vote in 12 months, possibly weeks or even days.
The committee’s board made no immediate rule changes on Wednesday, but has scheduled executive committee elections for Monday, with a result set later in the evening.
The new executive could decide to change the rules, with Mr Johnson then facing another battle to remain in office.