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The UK prime minister Boris Johnson is again under intense pressure after two of his most senior cabinet ministers attacked his leadership and resigned.

The chancellor of the Exchequer (fiance minister) Rishi Sunak, and Health Secretary Sajid Javid have both now abandoned Mr Johnson.

But the prime minister has vowed to fight on.

The trigger for the latest resignations is the suggestion that Mr Johnson made misleading statements about a scandal involving allegations of sexual misconduct against a Conservative MP.

Mr Sunak said the public rightly expected the government "to be conducted properly, competently and seriously".

Hannah White from the Institute of Government told Newsday that the events were deeply damaging for the PM, and even if he can replace those who resigned he is severely weakened.

She says "He can survive, but the question is for how long? I think the consensus in West Minister as of last night
was that this was a deeply damaging set of resignations for Boris Johnson, and that really his authority over his government now has ebbed away. And even if he is able to stay in his position, and replace those who've resigned with other colleagues, he's unable to govern so effectively, because his position will be so weak".

(Photo by Justin Tallis - Pool/Getty Images)

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