Ashby MP Andrew Bridgen has stepped up his opposition to Prime Minister Boris Johnson this morning (Wednesday) - less than 24 hours after the resignations of Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak.

Mr Bridgen, the Conservative MP for North West Leicestershire, said on BBC Breakfast: 'It's time for the Big Dog to go out to a farm and never be seen again."

Pressure on the Prime Minister to step down grew last night when his Health Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer resigned within minutes of each other over Boris Johnson's handling of the Chris Pincher scandal.

Mr Bridgen said last night (Tuesday) that moves to force the Prime Minister out of office could happen within 24 hours.

This morning, he suggested Johnson leaves or faces rules to the 1922 Committee being changed so that another confidence vote can be had inside 12 months since the previous one.

The rebel Ashby MP told BBC Breakfast: "It's felt different since the By-election defeats, the confidence vote and the Pincher debacle.

"We're regarded as rebels but well over half the Conservative Party now want Boris Johnson to leave office.

"It now means we're the mainstream.

"It'll be an interesting day for Boris Johnson, whether my colleagues are willing to support him from the backbenches during PMQs at lunchtime.

Boris Johnson visited North West Leicestershire two years ago. Photo: Andrew Bridgen

"Plus, he's got a grilling from the Liaison Committee later on today.

"A month ago we had a confidence vote but there's been a lot of buyer's remorse from those who backed him since then.

"Even arch-Boris loyalists on the backbenches had given up after Boris Johnson had pushed junior ministers out to defend a line which was found to be untrue within 24 hours.

"That's blown their credibility.

"No-one's willing to go out and defend the indefensible for him.

"Ultimately, it's MPs who decide who the Prime Minister is, it was the Conservative Party that won an 80-seat majority at the last election.

"Boris Johnson is an existential threat to the future of the Conservative Party.

"We need a vibrant Conservative Party for the health of our democracy.

"For the last seven months, is the whole of Government policy has been dominated by saving 'Big Dog'.

"Well, now I'm afraid that it's time for Big Dog to go away to a farm and never be seen again.

"I think there'll be more revelations today.

"The Prime Minister will have a rough day.

"I think we're getting very close to the end and it's best it was done quickly now, we need to get an election under way for a new Prime Minister.

"I'd like colleagues in the Cabinet to tell him the game's up so that he leaves with a modicum of decorum.

"If not, we'll have to change the rules of the 1922 Committee and throw him out."