Suella Braverman has departed as UK home secretary after Liz Truss cleared her diary and called off a planned visit amid desperate attempts to save her premiership.
No 10 announced shortly after 12.30pm that Ms Truss would be visiting a British-owned electronics manufacturer specialising in defence, aerospace, transport and automotive technology.
But a little over an hour later, the visit, during which Ms Truss was expected to take questions from broadcasters, was cancelled.
It has now emerged that Braverman has vacated her position as home secretary.
Grant Shapps, the former transport secretary who strongly backed Rishi Sunak in the Conservative leadership race, is expected to replace her.
According to ITV’s Robert Peston Braverman was asked to resign over an issue relating to “security”.
She had previously infuriated officials in India with comments that threatened a new free trade deal with the country.
In an interview with The Spectator Magazine, Braverman said she had “concerns” about the trade deal because it would increase migration to the UK and Indians represented the largest group of visa overstayers.
“I do have some reservations. Look at migration in this country — the largest group of people who overstay are Indian migrants.”
The comments sparked a furious reaction from Indian government ministers and officials, sources from both governments have said.
Indian government sources said the “relationship has taken a step back” following Braverman’s comments, adding: “There’s still a lot of goodwill but if certain individuals are still embedded in the government it will paralyse the talks”.
They said Truss should publicly “disassociate” herself from Braverman’s words if she wanted to revive the deal.