Nadine Dorries and Jacob Rees-Mogg lead loyalists rallying round PM despite ‘minor mistake’ over Chris Pincher

Boris Johnson’s closest political allies are rallying around him in a last-ditch attempt to prevent the total collapse of the Government.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries was the first to come out backing the PM, tweeting: “I’m not sure anyone actually doubted this, however, I am 100 behind the PM who consistently gets all the big decisions right.”

Brexit Opportunities minister Jacob Rees-Mogg told Sky News that he would stay in post despite what he said was the Prime Minister’s “minor mistake” over Chris Pincher, describing Mr Johnson as a “big man who’s willing to apologise when he’s made a mistake”.

He said: “The Prime Minister won a large mandate in a general election, a vote of the British people and that should not be taken away from him because a number of people resign.

“The Prime Minister won the vote (of no confidence), and the thing about democracy is that if you win the vote, you’ve won. That, I think is fundamental.

“Harold Macmillan lost his whole Treasury team and then went off for a tour of the Commonwealth, saying he was going to get beyond ‘these little local difficulties’. I think it’s much the same.

“Chancellors do resign, and this doesn’t necessarily have any effect on the Government. Losing Chancellors is just something that happens.

“The Prime Minister has a mandate from the British people and a majority in the House of Commons.”

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack also said he would “fully support the Prime Minister,” adding: I am sorry to see good colleagues resign, but we have a big job of work to do, and that’s what we’re getting on with.”

Alok Sharma, who sits in Cabinet as COP26 president, pushed ahead with a meeting with Turkey’s finance minister, tweeting: “I am getting on with my job working with countries to deliver on their COP26 commitments.”

Sources close to deputy PM Dominic Raab, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Home Secretary Priti Patel and Housing Secretary Michael Gove all said they would be staying in post, though they did not immediately put out statements in support of the PM.