West Dorset MP Chris Loder has said that Prime Minister Boris Johnson "cannot stay on until the autumn" following his resignation.

The PM announced he will step down as the leader of the Conservative party yesterday (Thursday), but will continue as the Prime Minister until the autumn to allow a new leadership contest to take place.

At 12.30pm, Mr Johnson made a statement outside parliament confirming his resignation. He said: "I tried to stay in Downing Street, because it is my job, my duty and my obligation to do what we promised to do in 2019."

He added: "It is now clear the will of the parliamentary Conservative party that there would be a new leader and therefore a new Prime Minister.

"From now on, until the Prime Minister is in place, your interests will be served and the Government will carry on."

However, Mr Loder said: "I'm afraid, that Boris Johnson cannot stay on until the autumn. Government cannot function without ministers in place and I expect the deputy Prime Minister to take over imminently whilst a leadership election takes place."

Over the past few days, a number of senior cabinet members and MPs resigned from the party, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid quitting the cabinet on Tuesday as more facts emerged about the Chris Pincher affair

Our own MP, Chris Loder, had just spoken out against the PM, stating he had lost confidence in him and he should stand down.