Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries has said she is backing Boris Johnson to succeed Liz Truss as Tory leader.
Ms Dorries said she had spoken to the former prime minister – who is currently believed to be on holiday in the Caribbean – following Ms Truss’s announcement but declined to say whether he had decided to run.
However, if he does throw his hat into the ring, she said she was confident he will get the 100 signatures needed to make it onto the ballot paper.
“There is only one MP who has the mandate of the British public, who won a general election only three years ago with an 80-seat majority, and that was Boris Johnson,” Ms Dorries told Sky News.
“He is a known winner and that is certainly who I’m putting my name against because I want us to win the general election. Having a winner in place is what the party needs to survive.
“I am quite confident he will get the 100 signatures.”
