Boris Johnson ally Nigel Adams will stand down as MP with ‘immediate effect’

MP Nigel Adams, an ally of Boris Johnson, has announced he will be standing down with ‘immediate effect’, triggering a by-election in his Selby and Ainsty constituency.

In a tumultuous 24 hours for the Conservative Party, Mr Adams, 56, said on Twitter: ‘Yesterday, Selby Conservatives selected an excellent new parliamentary candidate.

‘I’ve today informed the chief whip that I will be standing down as a Member of Parliament with immediate effect. It has been an honour to represent the area where I was raised, educated & I want to thank my constituents for their wonderful support since 2010.’

It comes after Boris Johnson, 58, sensationally resigned yesterday after claiming he was the victim of a ‘witch hunt’ over Partygate.

Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, 66, also announced she would be quitting as an MP last night – prompting speculation there would be a flurry of further resignations over the next few days.

MP Nigel Adams, an ally of Boris Johnson , has announced he will be standing down with ‘immediate effect’

In an angry late-night statement, the former Prime Minister said he was standing down as an MP ‘with immediate effect’. 

His departure stunned Rishi Sunak and there was dismay in No 10 at the prospect of a fresh round of Tory bloodletting.

Just 24 hours earlier, Mr Johnson was handed the findings of the controversial Commons privileges committee inquiry into Partygate, which sealed his fate.

The inquiry, led by Labour’s former deputy leader Harriet Harman and other Brexiteer tories, is understood to have ruled that he lied to Parliament when he said no rules were broken during lockdown gatherings in No 10 – a claim he has always denied.

The committee is thought to have advised that he should be suspended for at least ten days, triggering a by-election in his west London constituency.

But Mr Johnson said last night he was the victim of a ‘witch-hunt’ by forces seeking ‘revenge for Brexit’.

In an angry late-night statement, the former Prime Minister said he was standing down as an MP ‘with immediate effect’

Ex-Tory minister Nadine Dorries said yesterday: ‘I have today informed the chief whip that I am standing down as the MP for Mid Bedfordshire, with immediate effect.

‘It has been an honour to serve as the MP for such a wonderful constituency but it is now time for someone younger to take the reins.’

She had been linked with a seat in the House of Lords in Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list but her appointment is believed to have been blocked by officials.

Downing Street denied blocking the appointments, but there was fury among supporters of Mr Johnson.

Her resignation means there will be a by-election in the seat, which she won with a majority of 24,664 in 2019.

The decision by Mrs Dorries to quit means Mr Sunak still faces the prospect of an unwanted by-election. 

She had been linked with a seat in the House of Lords in Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list but her appointment is believed to have been blocked by officials