Tory MPs vote on leadership candidates as backstabbing claims rock party

But former Henley MP and London mayor Boris Johnson has ruled himself out of the leadership bid, saying: “Having consulted colleagues and in view of the circumstances in Parliament, I have concluded that person can not be me”.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said this could not wait until there was a new prime minister in September.

Johnson, who led the campaign to take Britain out of the European Union, said “hysteria” had gripped those who had supported staying in the bloc, and the government needed to explain the truth about the impact of Brexit.

STEVE CANNANE: All five Conservative leadership candidates have said they would not hold a second referendum on the UK’s exit deal from the EU.

Mrs May’s campaign was boosted by declarations of support from two former Boris Johnson backers, Braintree MP James Cleverly and former leadership contender David Davis, who represents Haltemprice and Howden.

Mr Johnson’s former campaign manager, Ben Wallace MP, suggested Michael Gove would be a security risk as prime minister because of his “emotional need” to gossip after drinking.

Michael Gove’s failure to make the final shortlist for the Tory party’s ballot on the next prime minister is the latest in a series of extraordinary twists in the fortunes of leading Brexiters, with those who led the campaign for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union now set to watch the formation of a new government from the sidelines.

“Theresa is an incredibly impressive performer, she’s been a great Home Secretary but of course the decision as to how will be the next leader of the Conservative party will rest with the members of the Conservative party and they will have two candidates to choose from”.

Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb: The 43-year-old was promoted to the cabinet in 2014 as Welsh secretary, and boosted his profile earlier this year when he took over as work and pensions secretary. Are we really confident that the membership won’t vote for a fresh face who shares their attitudes about much of modern life, like they did with IDS?

A senior Tory said Mr Gove would have to consider whether to keep going unless he attracted a big share of those MPs who have not backed anyone in public.

“Important policy and personnel details made their way to the papers”.

He says she “has the qualities and the character to take our country forward and, with her quietly determined, down-to-earth style, to re-unite us after the referendum”.

Now, Mr Wallace has intervened in the Conservative party’s leadership battle to claim Mr Gove too, is not fit for high office.

Prime Minister David Cameron has said he intends to remain as Witney’s MP in West Oxfordshire once he has stepped down which, he says, will be before October.

You have left for this month.