FORMER minister Caroline Dinenage has submitted a letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson as Prime Minister.

The Gosport MP said Mr Johnson's leadership has fallen into 'disrepute' through a 'catalogue of recent events' - including the 'unforgivable mishandling' of the allegation against MP Chris Pincher.

Ms Dinenage, who served as a minister for six years, has now submitted a letter to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs.

Mr Johnson previously survived a no-confidence vote triggered by MPs writing to Sir Graham, but it's possible the Tory rulebook could be changed to allow another vote.

It comes as Mr Johnson was tonight urged by ministers to step down - but he refused to do so.

READ MORE: Southampton's Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid resign amid Chris Pincher row

Home Secretary Priti Patel, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis and Welsh Secretary Simon Hart were among the Cabinet ministers telling Mr Johnson to stand down.

In her letter - published online - Ms Dinenage wrote: "I am writing to share my deep regret that I no longer have confidence in our Prime Minister.

"This Government has a strong record on some of the biggest challenges we have faced as a country, not least in our world-beating Covid vaccine roll-out and our support for Ukraine.

"However, the catalogue of recent events, concluding with the unforgivable mishandling of (the Chris Pincher fiasco), have significantly overshadowed these achievements and, in my view, have brought the Prime Minister's leadership into disrepute."

The former care minister said she served Mr Johnson as a minister and MP with integrity and loyalty.

She was ousted as a minister in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport in September.

But she added: "However, my priorities will always be my loyalty to my constituents, the Conservative Party and this country and I am sorry to say that I no longer believe the Prime Minister is governing in the best interests of any of them.

"So, with sadness, I withdraw my support for the Prime Minister, in the hope that we can rebuild trust in the Conservative Party and deliver the strong leadership, integrity and vision our great country deserves."