BORIS Johnson faces the fight for his political life today as he battles fresh resignations and a brutal Commons showdown.

In the worst possible start, Will Quince and Robin Walker both quit as education ministers early this morning along with top transport aide Laura Trott.

More resignations are expected to flood in today as the PM's enemies smell blood and seize their chance to push him out of No10.

Mr Johnson is desperately clinging on after Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid spectacularly wielded the knife yesterday with devastating Cabinet resignations.

He faces a gruelling double-whammy pasting as he gears up for PMQs followed by a grilling by the Liaison Committee.

Mutinous Tory MPs could rub salt into the PM's wounds at what will be a brutal Commons showdown at noon.

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Boris Johnson suffers more resignations as ministers quit before PMQs

Time is running out for Boris – unless he delivers for the British people

And at 3.30pm he will endure further probing by a firing squad of senior MPs eager to haul the embattled PM over the coals. 

In key developments:

• New Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi rushed out to defend the PM
• He dangled the prospect of tax cuts to win round Tory MPs
• Sajid Javid is expected to make a resignation statement after PMQs
• Cabinet Minister Steve Barclay was appointed Health Secretary
• Universities Minister Michelle Donelan was promoted to Education Secretary
• Twelve people have so far resigned from the government
• More Tory MPs submitted letters of no confidence

Desperate to stem the tide of rebellion, new Chancellor Mr Zahawi toured TV studios urging MPs to throw down their knives.

He said: "All I would say to my colleagues is people don't vote for divided teams."

It came after rising start Tory MP Ms Trott quit as an aide to the Transport Secretary.

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She said that "trust in politics is – and must always be – of the upmost importance, but sadly in recent months this has been lost".

Mr Quince quit as children's minister after being sent out earlier in the week to defend the PM over the Chris Pincher scandal.

The line the Tory MP was given by No10 later turned out to be incorrect.

In a stinging resignation letter he said: "Thank you for meeting with me yesterday evening and for your sincere apology regarding the briefings I received from No10 ahead of Monday's media round, which we now know to be inaccurate.

"It is with great sadness and regret that I feel that I have no choice but to tender my resignation as minister for children and families as I accepted and repeated those assurances in good faith."

Schools Standards Minister Robin Walker piled in: "The loss of the Rishi Sunak and the Sajid Javid this week, two of our brightest talents from the top team, reflects a worrying narrowing of the broad church that I believe any Conservative Government should seek to achieve."

Ten top Tories have now followed Mr Sunak and Mr Javid out the door.

Mr Sunak was livid that today’s massive National Insurance cut was being overshadowed by No10’s “lack of focus, grip and competence” after months of rolling scandals.

In a blistering resignation letter, he said: “The public rightly expects government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously.

“I recognise this may be my last ministerial job, but I believe these standards are worth fighting for and that is why I am resigning.”

After months of tension between No10 and No11 over tax cuts, borrowing and inflation, Mr Sunak warned it was time for the public to “hear the truth”.

But Mr Johnson hit back that he would finally now be able to cut taxes without being blocked by his nervous neighbour — as he promoted Nadhim Zahawi to take the reins of the nation’s finances in troubled times.

The PM told MPs last night: “I know you’re all avidly in favour of tax cuts and tonight’s events might make that a bit easier to deliver.”

Another key loyalist Steve Barclay – who had been serving as the PM’s chief of staff – took over running the NHS.

Mr Javid demanded the PM throw in the towel for the good of the Conservative Party — and the country after his handling of Partygate and Gropegate.

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