Carrie Symonds, 30, a Tory aide, has been romantically linked to Boris Johnson, 54

Senior Conservatives warned today they would refuse to serve in a government led by Boris Johnson as he faced a growing backlash for likening Theresa May’s Chequers strategy to a suicide vest.

David Gauke, the justice secretary, said he was “not a natural Boris supporter” when he was asked if he would serve under Mr Johnson.

Nicky Morgan, the former education secretary and chairwoman of the Treasury select committee, has unequivocally ruled out working for him.

“The answer is no, I would not serve in a Boris Johnson cabinet,” she told the BBC.

The comments followed attacks by ministers yesterday with Sajid Javid, the home secretary, criticising Mr Johnson’s use of language. A former colleague of Mr Johnson at the Foreign Office called the remarks