Boris Johnson and his wife of 25 years Marina today announced that they separated 'several months ago' and are divorcing amid claims he cheated on his long-suffering spouse again.

The Tory MP, 54, who is claimed to have had at least three affairs during their marriage, was reportedly kicked out by his QC wife, also 54, after persistent reports of his womanising.

The rift emerged when his daughter Lara, 25, was apparently overheard calling her father a 'selfish b*****' and insisting her mother would now 'never take him back'.

Their split was announced as it was claimed the Brexit cheerleader is poised to make a bid to replace Theresa May as PM with sources calling it a 'damage limitation exercise' rather than a 'stitch up'.

One Tory MP claimed today the news was all a case of 'shovelling the s*** out of the way for the leadership bid'.

Today Boris looked serious and refused to comment as he left his country home in Oxfordshire minutes before the couple announced their marriage was over.

In a joint personal statement Mr Johnson and Ms Wheeler said: 'Several months ago, after 25 years of marriage, we decided it was in our best interests to separate.

'We have subsequently agreed to divorce and that process is under way. As friends we will continue to support our four children in the years ahead. We will not be commenting further'.

Boris Johnson emerges from his Oxfordshire home this morning as it was revealed he and his wife Marina are divorcing amid claims he has cheated on her

Boris later smiled as he arrived in his Uxbridge constituency today despite his announcement that he is splitting with Marina

Boris Johnson and his wife Marina Wheeler (pictured together on polling day in the 2016 mayoral campaign) are living apart after she accused him of cheating, it was claimed last night

Mr Johnson has previously had affairs with Helen Macintyre (left) and Petronella Wyatt (right)

One of Mr Johnson's confidants said last night the disclosure was not an attempt to sabotage his hopes of becoming Prime Minister but a 'damage limitation exercise'.

The ally said: 'I believe it is in Boris's interests to get this news out there now so it is not used by his enemies in the height of a leadership contest.

'It has all the hallmarks of an attempt to clear the decks. His marital problems have never been a secret.

He also reportedly had an affair with journalist Anna Fazackerley, which emerged after he was seen leaving her London flat

'This means that if and when he goes for the top job, it will be old news and cannot harm him – which is what his pro EU enemies were bound to have done.'

The pro-Brexit Sun gave Mr Johnson total support when he led the Leave campaign in the 2016 EU referendum.

And it has echoed his criticism of Mrs May's Chequers Brexit deal, which prompted his July resignation as Foreign Secretary.

Mr Johnson and his lawyer wife Marina Wheeler, both 54, now live apart and no longer socialise as a couple, it was claimed.

Mr Johnson has already been thrown out twice before, first in 2004 over his affair with writer Petronella Wyatt, and again in 2010 when he fathered a love child with art consultant Helen Macintyre.

In the past Mrs Wheeler, mother to their four children, has taken him back, despite his philandering. Sources close to Mr Johnson refused last night to comment.

The MP's daughter Lara, 25, was overheard at a party ranting about her father's infidelity, saying her mother would 'never take him back', The Sun said. She added: 'Mum is finished with him.' She is said to have told pals at a party he 'is a selfish b******'.

The Johnsons are believed to have split up around the time they left the lavish grace-and-favour mansion at Carlton Gardens - traditionally the home of the Foreign Secretary - last month after he quit the Cabinet.

The estranged couple were last seen together leaving Carlton House Terrace in Westminster, the Foreign Secretary's grace and favour home, but it appears they were already estranged by then

Then-London Mayor Boris Johnson with his wife Marina and his daughter Lara Johnson as she voted for the first time in 2012 when he won a second term. Lara, 25, was overheard at a party ranting about her father's infidelity, saying her mother would 'never take him back'

Boris was thrown out by his wife in 2010 when he fathered a love child with art consultant Helen Macintyre (pictured)

Only yesterday a poll of Tory members gave the leading Brexiteer a huge lead over his rivals to succeed Mrs May.

A survey on the ConservativeHome website revealed he had the support of 35 per cent of activists – a massive 20-point lead over second-placed Home Secretary Sajid Javid. A friend of the MP described the recent strain in the Johnsons' marriage.

'They were fine last Christmas but there's been strain since then,' the source told The Sun. I don't think being in the Foreign Office helped — all that travel.

'Marina wasn't at their daughter Cassia's birthday party this week. In fact, she has not been evident for a while.

'She's been writing a book and that probably hasn't helped either because she is no longer doing as many cases as a barrister.

'And yet I know they will always be incredibly close. I wouldn't say their marriage is over until there's a divorce. He doesn't do anything politically without consulting her. She's highly intelligent and very pro-Brexit.'

Another friend said: 'He hates the children knowing this stuff but there's no getting around the fact that his living arrangements have changed.

'It's all very painful to watch.'

The former Foreign Secretary, who, has reportedly split from his lawyer wife, resigned in July in protest at Theresa May's Brexit plans. He is pictured in Westminster on Thursday

Boris Johnson with Marina Wheeler after casting his vote in the EU referendum in June 2016

The split means Mr Johnson could have lost one of his closest political confidantes and advisers.

Boris Johnson looks set to split his £6.5million fortune Boris Johnson must now split his millions with his wife Marina as they rush through their divorce - but he will not be punished for his alleged philandering. The Foreign Secretary, 54, who is believed to have at least £6.5million in cash and assets, will share half of everything he has because they have been married for 25 years. But Mr Johnson's alleged cheating will not have any impact on the settlement, even though he is reported to have had at least three affairs since he married Marina in 1993, legal experts have told MailOnline. The couple own a grand Islington townhouse worth at least £4million plus a country home in Oxfordshire with an estimated value of £1million. Mr Johnson, who is paid £275,000-a-year for a weekly Daily Telegraph column and has written bestselling history books, is said to have a personal wealth of at least £1.5million. Divorce expert David Leadercramer, a partner at law firm DMH Stallard, told MailOnline: 'If the assets total £6.5 million then Marina would look at getting half. 'If £3.25million gave her enough for a home and to meet her day to day needs then she would not usually look for maintenance in addition. They would simply divide assets equally on what is known as a clean break'. Advertisement

His wife, a human rights QC, was a major influence in his decision to eventually back Brexit in the run-up to the 2016 referendum.

The former Foreign Secretary has been urged by some Tory MPs to challenge Mrs May as early as the autumn.

Allies say he was expected to take the temperature at the Tory party conference, which begins later this month. Many activists want him to scrap her Chequers plan for a so-called 'soft' Brexit.

Allies of Mr Johnson, the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, will insist his philandering has been well known among party members for years and is 'written into his price'.

Neither of his previous infidelities stopped him getting elected in 2008 as London mayor, being re-elected in 2012, or serving in one of the highest offices of state.

Mr Johnson was seen emerging from lunch in Westminster yesterday with Tory Chief Whip Julian Smith – fuelling speculation he was plotting to topple Mrs May.

Tory MP Nigel Evans told Sky News: ‘It is a personal tragedy for both of them and I wish them both well.

‘We can all speculate about what happened in their personal lives, only they will really know. I wish them both well – they have made this decision now and they are divorcing.’

Asked if the announcement suggests Mr Johnson is not ‘trustworthy’, he added: ‘It is 2018, we are not in the 1950s now, so things move on and people make judgements about people – they are able to distinguish between personal lives and their public lives.’

He said he does not think new of the divorce matters to Mr John’s political career.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen told MailOnline: ‘I don’t think it makes any difference to his leadership chances.

‘I would like to see a leader of the Conservative Party who I have confidence can beat Jeremy Corbyn in a general election, and I think Boris has that charisma and appeal.’

Mr Bridgen, who has sent a letter of no confidence in Theresa May to party chiefs, added: ‘The Prime Minister has stuck with the Chequers proposals and I have no confidence in Chequers, therefore I have no confidence in Theresa May.’

He said that Mr Johnson will be the ‘star attraction’ at the Tory party next month where he will address a rally of up to 1,000 people.

He added: ‘Boris has that star appeal – that charisma.’