Boris Johnson and David Davis are locked in talks to decide which one should be the ‘Brexit candidate’ to succeed Theresa May, it has been claimed.
The two ministers, who both left the Cabinet in July in protest at the Prime Minister’s Brexit plans, are said to have made plans in case Mrs May is toppled this week.
Tory rebels are gathering signatures to force a confidence vote, although they have not yet reached the 48 letters required.
Mr Johnson is planning to appoint Jacob Rees-Mogg as Chancellor if he becomes the new PM, the Sunday Express reported.
Former ministers David Davis (left) and Boris Johnson (right) are locked in talks to decide which one should be the ‘Brexit candidate’ to succeed Theresa May, it has been claimed
Sources claimed Mr Johnson and Mr Davis have a ‘non-aggression pact’ and have agreed to support each other if one of them reaches the final round of a leadership election.
Mr Johnson’s supporters are said to include Mr Rees-Mogg, a possible future Chancellor, while plot ringleader Steve Baker could be given a Cabinet job.
However allies of Mr Davis believe he too would run to replace Mrs May, and could be backed by former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab who resigned this week.
Ex-Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson was forced to abandon a leadership bid in 2016 when Michael Gove announced he was running to succeed David Cameron.
Mr Gove could yet emerge as a ‘compromise candidate’ to pursue a ‘Norway option’ for the UK after Brexit, it was reported.
Mr Davis and Mr Johnson have not yet added their names to the list of Tory plotters hoping to force a vote.
Environment Secretary Mr Gove is one of the so-called ‘Ring of Five’ Brexiteer ministers who are pushing to rewrite the deal.
Mr Gove and his allies Andrea Leadsom Penny Mourdaunt, Liam Fox and Chris Grayling have reportedly been holding ‘pizza nights’ at Mrs Leadsom’s home.
Two opinion polls suggested the week of chaos in Westminster has badly dented the election fortunes of the Conservatives amid an ongoing plot to topple Theresa May (pictured)
The five Brexiteers stayed on amid a series of resignations but are said to want changes to the Irish backstop, fearing that the current terms could keep Britain in the customs union indefinitely.
Mr Raab last night hit out at Theresa May, saying she has failed to stand up to a bullying European Union over the Brexit deal.
He told the Sunday Times the UK should demand an agreement that allows it to unilaterally leave any customs union.
Mr Raab said: ‘If we cannot close this deal on reasonable terms we need to be very honest with the country that we will not be bribed and blackmailed or bullied and we will walk away.
‘I think there is one thing that is missing and that is political will and resolve. I am not sure that message has ever landed.’