HYNDBURN MP Sara Britcliffe has quit her government role in protest at Boris Johnson's refusal to leave Downing Street.

The Tory backbencher resigned from her position as a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Department of Education saying: "It's time to draw a line."

Her move came as three East Lancashire Conservative local authority leaders called for the Prime Minister to go.

She is among the more than 30 ministers and PPSs to resign, while a number of other Tory backbenchers have withdrawn their support for Johnson who faces a Cabinet revolt after devastating day for his premiership.

Miss Britcliffe said: "It is with a heavy heart that I’ve given my resignation as PPS in a department I love, education.

"This Government has achieved so much and started delivering on levelling up in Hyndburn and Haslingden.

"But, this self-inflicted crisis risks undoing all of that. It’s time to draw a line."

Her resignation letter to Mr Johnson said: "I believe the government risks becoming so subsumed in continuous firefighting of self-inflicted issues that it will detract from our ability to deliver."

Miss Britcliffe, elected in the 2019 Tory general election landslide, had earlier told the Lancashire Telegraph: "I'm bitterly disappointed with what we have seen over the past two weeks."

The Tory group bosses of Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and Burnley Councils all said it was time for the Prime Minister to go - despite his defiant pledge to stay in Number 10.

Miss Britcliffe's dramatic late afternoon resignation followed more than 30 ministers and aides quitting the government led by chancellor Rishi Sunak and health secretary Sajid Javid.

Pendle MP and transport minister Andrew Stephenson, former Northern Powerhouse minister and MP for Rossendale and Darwen Jake Berry and Burnley Tory backbencher Antony Higginbotham all declined to comment.

In the wake of the political storm caused by Downing Street's changing account of Mr Johnson's knowledge of alleged sexual misconduct by former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher East Lancashire Tory local authority bosses spoke out.

Cllr John Slater, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council's Conservative group, said: "Unfortunately I feel that the Chris Pincher incident was the last straw for the Parliamentary party and for myself.

"I thought that Boris has the potential to be a great Prime Minister. Unfortunately for him history will tell a different story.

"When people do not trust the Prime Minister, it is time for him to consider his position."

Burnley Council's Tory group leader Cllr Alan Hosker said: "I think Boris should go.He's told too many lies. It's time for a change."

Cllr Marlene Haworth, leader of Hyndburn Council's Conservative group, said: "I think possibly Boris should be should be going gracefully.

"I totally understand how people feel. We cannot change what is happening in Westminster. We are just focussing on the council by-election in Great Harwood."

Ribble Valley Council's Tory group leader Cllr Stephen Atkinson said: "Obviously the confidence vote is a matter for the Parliamentary party but the country need to see an improvement in the government's performance as soon as possible."

Blackburn's Labour MP Kate Hollern said:"Boris Johnson's government has been falling apart for months and it's finally come to a head.

"These cabinet ministers have known this Prime Minister to be a liar, a law breaker and stood by him as he mocked the British people. He needs to go. This country deserves better."

Ribble Valley Conservative MP Nigel Evans said: "As deputy speaker I am watching events with interest and I pass all letters both pro and anti the Prime Minister to 10 Downing Street so he is able to gauge the level of support or lack of it."