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UK PM Fires Ally and Digs in Despite Calls To Quit

LONDON: Britain s scandal-hit Prime Minister Boris Johnson attempted a rearguard offensive late Wednesday against a cabinet and Conservative party revolt, firing a top ally and vowing to “fight on” despite dozens of government members resigning.

The dismissal from the cabinet of Communities Secretary Michael Gove — Johnson s right-hand-man in Britain s 2016 Brexit referendum campaign — dramatically showed that the Conservative leader was not going to bow out without a fight.

“We re going to see him coming out fighting,” Johnson s parliamentary private secretary James Duddridge told Sky News, while confirming Gove s firing.

“The prime minister is in buoyant mood and will fight on,” Duddridge said, adding that Johnson would next week unveil a new strategy against a cost-of-living crisis pummelling Britain.

But within hours Johnson was hit by a fresh cabinet resignation — the latest after more than 40 departures from the government since late Tuesday — as Welsh Secretary Simon Hart quit.

Gove was reportedly the first cabinet member to confront Johnson earlier Wednesday with the message that he must go for the good of the Tory party and country.

A delegation of other cabinet members had then awaited Johnson s return to Downing Street from a lengthy grilling by a parliamentary committee also to tell him his time was up.