The beauty contest for the Tory leadership should Theresa May be forced from office began in earnest last night.
Boris Johnson and Sajid Javid both appeared in the Tory-supporting Spectator magazine to make highly personal interventions as they vie for the top job.
Their move comes as Mrs May faces the prospect of a no confidence vote in her leadership as early as this morning.
The former foreign secretary used a column in the Spectator to open up about his recent weight loss – an intervention which is widely seen as laying the ground for a leadership bid.
And Mr Javid, the Home Secretary, used an interview with the same magazine, which is known as the Tory Bible, to stake his claim.
Mr Javid, left, and Mr Johnson, right, both just pieces in Spectator magazine to pitch to be PM
Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured in Westminster yesterday) has been calling for Theresa May’s resignation for weeks and is among those thought to be vying for her role
The pair are among the favourites to succeed Mrs May if she succumbs to a leadership challenge in the coming days.
But they are only two of what is expected to be a crowded field. Brexiteers have been unable to agree on a candidate, meaning Dominic Raab and David Davis – both former Brexit secretaries – could also throw their hats in the ring.
At the weekend Esther McVey, the former work and pensions secretary, said she would also consider standing if she was approached. Another possible Brexiteer candidate is International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt.
Jeremy Hunt, the Foreign Secretary, who campaigned for Remain but now supports Leave, is also expected to stand.
Penny Mordaunt (pictured left) and Amber Rudd (right) are among the other ministers believed to be preparing for a leadership contest with Mrs May
Others want Amber Rudd, the Remain supporter who recently returned to the Cabinet to take over from Miss McVey, to put her name forward.
It was rumoured at the weekend that Miss Rudd could join Mr Johnson’s campaign as part of a dream ticket, uniting Remain and Leave sides.
Similarly, Brexiteer Michael Gove could also support Miss Rudd’s candidacy in another dream ticket. Leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom could also stand.
Mr Johnson, who quit the Cabinet over Brexit in July, has spent months sniping at Mrs May’s negotiations.
He used his Spectator article to reveal he has lost 12lb in two weeks after receiving a wake-up call about his health.
He outlined how he has dropped the ‘bathfuls’ of alcohol for glasses of water, and the late-night binges of chorizo and cheese for hermit-sized breakfast portions of porridge.
House of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom (left) and defence secretary Gavin Williamson (right) are among the other rumoured candidates
Mr Johnson revealed his unhealthy habits had seen his weight soar to 16 and a half stone. A visit to the doctor made him feel ‘ashamed’ of his lifestyle.
The former Cabinet minister said he was a living embodiment of a state of ‘akrasia’ – acting against better judgment through weakness of will.
Recalling being questioned by the doctor, Mr Johnson said: ‘What did I eat? I described the delicious late-night binges of chorizo and cheese.
She winced. How much did I drink? We tried to work it out in units. Glasses, pints, bathfuls?
She looked suitably appalled.’ Mr Johnson added: ‘I looked at this nice but disapproving French doctor and I resolved, like Gandhi, to be the change I wanted to see.
‘I breakfast like some Georgian hermit on porridge with a luxury sprinkling of nuts. At drinks parties I guzzle water and marvel at the Pinteresque slowness with which we come to the point. Is it working? You bet it is.’
Ardent Brexiteer Michael Gove (pictured left) and former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab (right) are also
David Davis voted to leave and could be preparing to take over from Mrs May
The admission comes two days after he made a public pitch for the Tory leadership by appearing on TV sporting a more statesmanlike closely-cropped hairstyle.
Meanwhile, Mr Javid appeared to set out his stall for the leadership. In his Spectator interview, he said that voters want ‘to see politicians that they can relate to; that they think are authentic.’
The Home Secretary also challenged the immigration target, championed by Mrs May, arguing that the policy should be set solely in terms of what is in the national interest.
‘Personally, I think that is far more important than someone saying, ‘our immigration policy is about bringing numbers down, and nothing else’,’ he said.
Last night Mr Davis, 69, wrote in the Daily Telegraph: ‘It is time to grasp the nettle and move on to a new strategy.
But the Government’s tactics have indeed run us down to the wire, so it is also time to plan for a managed ‘no deal’ exit. ‘No deal’ is actually a misnomer; we will depart on World Trade Organisation terms.
‘Now is the moment to seize control and deliver our own destiny. We are crying out for leadership and direction.’
Pictured: Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt
Who could replace Theresa May? As Brexiteers move against the Prime Minister because of her deal ‘betrayal’ these are some of the leading contenders to take over
Theresa May looks certain to face a vote of no confidence after her Brexit deal was rejected out of hand by Eurosceptics.
If she loses the Tory Party will launch a leadership contest to replace her – a process that will likely take weeks with just months until Brexit Day.
These are some of the leading contenders to replace her:
Dominic Raab
How did they vote on Brexit?
Leave, with a second tier role campaigning for Vote Leave.
What is their view now?
Mr Raab was installed as Brexit Secretary to deliver the Chequers plan but sensationally resigned today saying the deal is not good enough.
What are their chances?
Being the first to resign from the Cabinet has put a rocket booster under Mr Raab’s chances, fuelling his popularity among the hardline Brexiteers. May struggle to overcome bigger beasts and better known figures.
Newly installed as Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab (pictured in Downing Street on Tuesday) is trying to negotiate Theresa May’s Brexit deal
Boris Johnson
How did they vote on Brexit?
Led the Vote Leave campaign alongside Michael Gove.
What is their view now?
Hard line Brexiteer demanding a clean break from Brussels. The former foreign secretary is violently opposed to Theresa May’s Chequers plan and a leading voice demanding a Canada-style trade deal.
What are their chances?
Rated as second favourite by the bookies, Mr Johnson’s biggest challenge will be navigating the Tory leadership rules. He may be confident of winning a run-off among Tory members but must first be selected as one of the top two candidates by Conservative MPs.
Rated as second favourite by the bookies, Boris Johnson’s (pictured at Tory conference last month) biggest challenge will be navigating the Tory leadership rules
Sajid Javid
How did they vote on Brexit?
Remain but kept a low profile in the referendum.
What is their view now?
Pro delivering Brexit and sceptical of the soft Brexit options.
What are their chances?
Probably the leading candidate from inside the Cabinet after his dramatic promotion to Home Secretary. Mr Javid has set himself apart from Mrs May on a series of policies, notably immigration.
Sajid Javid (pictured in Downing Street) is probably the leading candidate from inside the Cabinet after his dramatic promotion to Home Secretary
Jeremy Hunt
How did they vote on Brexit?
Remain.
What is their view now?
The Foreign Secretary claims the EU Commission’s ‘arrogance’ has made him a Brexiteer.
What are their chances?
Another top contender inside Cabinet, Mr Hunt’s stock rose during his record-breaking stint at the Department of Health and won a major promotion to the Foreign Office after Mr Johnson’s resignation. Widely seen as a safe pair of hands which could be an advantage if the contest comes suddenly.
Jeremy Hunt’s stock rose during his record-breaking stint at the Department of Health and won a major promotion to the Foreign Office after Mr Johnson’s resignation
David Davis
How did they vote on Brexit?
Leave.
What is their view now?
Leave and a supporter of scrapping Mrs May’s plan and pursuing a Canada-style trade deal with the EU.
What are their chances?
The favoured choice of many hard Brexiteers. Seen as a safer pair of hands than Mr Johnson and across the detail of the current negotiation after two years as Brexit Secretary. He could be promoted a caretaker to see through Brexit before standing down.
Unlikely to be the choice of Remain supporters inside the Tory Party – and has been rejected by the Tory membership before, in the 2005 race against David Cameron.
David Davis (pictured last month at a Brexiteer policy launch) is seen as a safer pair of hands than Mr Johnson and across the detail of the current negotiation after two years as Brexit Secretary
Amber Rudd
How did they vote on Brexit?
Remain. Represented Britain Stronger in Europe in the TV debates.
What is their view now?
Strongly remain and supportive of a second referendum – particularly given a choice between that and no deal.
What are their chances?
Popular among Conservative MPs as the voice of Cameron-style Toryism, Ms Rudd is still seen as a contender despite resigning amid the Windrush scandal – and she was boosted further by her return to Cabinet as Work and Pensions Secretary on Friday night. She is badly hampered by having a tiny majority in her Hastings constituency and would not be able to unite the Tory party in a sudden contest over the Brexit negotiation.
Popular among Conservative MPs as the voice of Cameron-style Toryism, Amber Rudd (pictured at Tory conference last month) is still seen as a contender despite resigning amid the Windrush scandal
Penny Mordaunt
How did they vote on Brexit?
Leave
What is their view now?
Leave and subject of persistent rumour she could be the next to quit Cabinet over Mrs May’s Brexit deal.
What are their chances?
Possible dark horse in the contest, Ms Mordaunt is not well known to the public but is seen as a contender in Westminster. She has been encouraged to join the Cabinet revolt over the Brexit deal and could resign within hours.
Possible dark horse in the contest, Penny Mordaunt (pictured in Downing Street) is not well known to the public but is seen as a contender in Westminster