Boris's 'farcical' final hours in Downing St

Brandon Lewis backed PM but situation 'untenable'

- Steph Spyro

FORMER Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis said he told Boris Johnson "it's over" shortly before the former PM quit.

Mr Lewis spoke of the "farcical" final hours of Mr Johnson's government in No 10.

He supported the former prime minister but was the fourth Cabinet member to quit in July last year.

Some 62 resignations ended his time in Downing Street.

In an interview with the Institute for Government, Mr Lewis called Mr Johnson's ousting "hugely unfair" after his "massive mandate from the country".

But he said that "it was untenable at that point. I was in No 10 for two or three hours the night before, and I actually said to him, 'When you can't field a government, as unfair as it is, it's over.'