Four senior aides to Boris Johnson have resigned from Downing Street within hours of each other amid growing pressure on the prime minister.
Policy Chief Munira Mirza left over what she said was a “scurrilous” attack by the PM on Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer.
Three staff caught up in the lockdown parties row – including Martin Reynolds, who sent out a “bring your own booze” invitation – also quit.
It came as the PM faces more questions over his leadership from his party.
Director of communications Jack Doyle confirmed his exit shortly after the departure of Ms Mirza.
Mr Doyle told staff that “recent weeks have taken a terrible toll on my family life”, but that he had always intended to leave after two years.
A statement from a No 10 spokeswoman said chief of staff Dan Rosenfield had offered his resignation to the prime minister earlier on Thursday, but would stay on while his successor was found.
And Mr Reynolds – the prime minister’s principal private secretary – will do the same, but then return to a role at the Foreign Office.