The Minister of Housing was relieved of his duties in a telephone conversation with his party leader this evening.
Mr Johnson’s decision to remove the veteran MP from his cabinet has sent shockwaves through Westminster, with one MP telling Express.co.uk: “This is not rational thinking.”
Mr Gove was absent from the House of Commons this lunchtime to the Prime Minister’s questions and failed to show up to support his boss.
It is believed that he personally told Johnson this morning that there was no hope that he would remain in office and that he would have to resign.
A major reshuffle is now underway as the prime minister looks to pile up his ranks with ultra-loyalists to restart his premiership.
The Housing Minister was just one of a number of cabinet colleagues who today begged the incumbent No. 10 to give up and quit.
Home Secretary Priti Patel, Home Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis and Wales Secretary Simon Hart were among the cabinet ministers who said Johnson would resign .
More to follow…