Boris Johnson confirms he will run in Tory leadership battle: 'Of course I'm going to go for it'

WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Boris Johnson has revealed he will be standing as a candidate to replace Theresa May as Conservative leader when she exits the role.

"I'm going to go for it. Of course I'm going to go for it," he said at a British Insurance Brokers' Association event in Manchester on Thursday.

The former foreign secretary, a long-standing leadership hopeful, added: "I don't think that is any particular secret to anybody."

Mr Johnson's announcement came just before it was confirmed Mrs May would set out a timetable for her departure when her Brexit deal returns to the Commons next month.

After a meeting with the Prime Minister in Westminster, 1922 Committee chair Sir Graham Brady said: "The Prime Minister is determined to secure our departure from the European Union and is devoting her efforts to securing the second reading of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill in the week commencing June 3, 2019, and the passage of that bill and the consequent departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union by the summer.

"We have agreed that she and I will meet following the second reading of the Bill to agree a timetable for the election of a new leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party."

Boris Johnson - In pictures

Boris Johnson resignation
1/77

Mr Johnson resigned from the Cabinet in July last year over the Prime Minister's handling of the Brexit negotiations.

The face of the 2016 Brexit referendum campaign, Mr Johnson was a front-runner in that year's party leadership campaign before he dropped out.

Under pressure: Theresa May
AP

But he again set out his pitch to the Tory membership in a speech at the party's annual conference in October last year. Some members queued for hours to get a seat.

He called on the party to return to its traditional values of low tax, strong policing and not to follow the policies of the left-wing Labour Party.

Several senior Tories are expected to enter the contest following Mrs May's resignation.

Among those who have already indicated they will put themselves forward for the race are Esther McVey, Andrea Leadsom and Rory Stewart.

Former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey has said she will run for 
REUTERS

Ms McVey, who resigned as work and pensions minister in November in protest at Mrs May's exit deal with the European Union, told Talkradio she plans to run.

She said: "I have always said quite clearly that if I got enough support from my colleagues, yes I would (run). Now people have come forward and I have got that support, so I will be going forward."

Mr Stewart, who was promoted to international development secretary this month, has also said he will put himself forward.

He opposes a "no deal" exit and has been a vocal advocate of Mrs May's deal with Brussels.

He told the BBC: "I do want to bring this country together... I accept Brexit, I am a Brexiteer, but I want to reach out to 'Remain' voters as well."

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in