Boris Johnson appoints Greg Clark tier secretary as PM tries to fill cabinet posts

Boris Johnson has appointed Tory MP Greg Clark as level secretary, he is desperately trying to fill cabinet vacancies in a bid to remain caretaker prime minister until the autumn.

< p>The prime minister is expected to announce his resignation around 1 p.m. Thursday after mass resignations from ministerial ranks and a cabinet revolt.

But he is expected to try to continue making ministerial appointments as he is seeking to remain in office until a new Tory leader is elected.

The senior Tories have made it clear they want Mr Johnson removed from Number 10 immediately and a caretaker Prime Minister be installed.

Tory MP Nus Ghani, deputy chairman of the 1922 committee, has said Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab should take over immediately in a caretaker capacity.

The interim period for a leadership contest is normal uncontroversial - but never before has a prime minister initially refused to leave office after a cabinet revolt, or previously breached other conventions.

The Department for Education (DfE) has not just one minister as GCSE and A-Level results approach after Michelle Donelan quit as education secretary after less than 36 hours in the role. Baroness Barran is now the department's only remaining minister.

In her resignation letter, prompted by the scandal of former Deputy Chief Whip Chris Pincher, she said she was "very concerned at the thought of not department ministers as we approach results day.”

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