One by one, cabinet ministers are confirming that they are not resigning this evening, leaving a very small group of ministers who have said nothing. One of the most conspicuous silences comes from Nadhim Zahawi, the Education Secretary. He has been mooted as a potential leadership contender, and has refused to rule out a bid. Tonight, he is not answering calls from colleagues. He is reading messages on WhatsApp but not replying to them. It has now been too long for him just to be a bit busy.
Zahawi has one of those things that Westminster types are obsessed with: a backstory
Currently we have two cabinet resignations and a number of more junior ministers and PPSs out too. It is reaching the point where silence is a tactic. Although many Tory MPs are saying that failing to quit now will be held against cabinet ministers in the looming leadership election, there remains a significant bulk of the Conservative membership who aren’t in the same place mentally as the MPs, and who think that what has happened to Johnson is in some way unfortunate.
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