British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing renewed calls to stand down as a second senior minister distanced himself from his controversial attack on Labour leader Keir Starmer and another adviser quit Downing Street.
Mr Johnson, under fire over lockdown parties in Whitehall, sought to rally Downing Street staff with a line from The Lion King, telling them "Change is good".
But he was hit with a fifth resignation in less than 24 hours when Elena Narozanski, a special adviser in the No 10 policy unit, walked out.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid made clear he disagreed with Mr Johnson's attack on Mr Starmer when he accused the Labour leader of failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile when he was director of public prosecutions.
Mr Javid told reporters: "Keir Starmer, when he was running the DPP, did a good job and he should be respected for it, it is a tough job and he deserved absolute respect for that.
"But the prime minister has also come out and clarified those remarks, and that is important."
Asked if the prime minister still had his support, Mr Javid said: "Of course he does. Absolutely."
Chancellor Rishi Sunak yesterday distanced himself from the prime minister's attacks, saying he would not have made the comments.
Backbencher Aaron Bell became the latest Tory MP to declare publicly that they have submitted a letter calling for a vote of no confidence in their leader.
In a statement, he said: "The breach of trust that events in No 10 Downing Street represent, and the manner in which they have been handled, makes his position untenable."
Read more: Three Downing Street departures were expected, but one was not
In an emotional intervention in the Commons on Monday following the publication of the Sue Gray report into lockdown parties, Mr Bell asked Mr Johnson if he thought he was a "fool" for following Covid restrictions at his grandmother's funeral.
Other Tory MPs are expected to consider over the weekend whether to write to the chairman of the Tory Party's 1922 Committee Graham Brady in an attempt to force a leadership contest.
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson has written to Conservative MPs promising to re-establish backbench policy committees and provide them with a "direct line" to No 10 as he seeks to dissuade them from calling for a vote of no confidence.
Addressed "Dear colleague", the letter says he is "committed to improving the way 10 Downing Street, and Government more broadly works", promising further updates in coming days.
This will include working with Mr Brady and his colleagues at the top of the 1922 committee.
"I want these policy committees to play an important role in generating ideas and discussion and so I encourage colleagues from across the party to get involved," Mr Johnson wrote.
"I understand the deep importance of engaging with colleagues in parliament and listening to your views and that is why I want colleagues to have a direct line into 10 Downing Street."
He said Andrew Griffith, the MP who is taking over as director of policy after the resignation of Munira Mirza, will provide "whatever engagement and support is necessary to make this a success".
