- Tory MPs scrambling to cut backroom deals to succeed David Cameron
- Boris Johnson’s allies complain Tory whips pushing for Theresa May to win
- Liam Fox, Stephen Crabb and Nicky Morgan also in the running
- Poll suggests May could be more popular than Boris among Tory voters
- Jeremy Hunt says new referendum or general election could be needed
- Chancellor George Osborne has ruled himself out of the leadership race
James Tapsfield, Political Editor For Mailonline
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Boris Johnson’s allies have complained about a coordinated drive by government whips to get Theresa May installed as Tory leader.
The claims emerged as the battle to succeed David Cameron ramped up ahead of nominations opening tomorrow.
More than half-a-dozen senior figures are considering a run at the top job, with Cabinet minister Stephen Crabb, Sajid Javid, Nicky Morgan and Jeremy Hunt thought to be in the frame.
However, Chancellor George Osborne today ruled out a bid admitting that his strong endorsement of EU membership in the referendum meant he could not bring the party together.
Attempts to about a coronation of Brexit champion Mr Johnson have fallen flat after supporters of Mrs May made it clear she is determined to fight her old rival to the bitter end.
Supporters of Home Secretary Theresa May, right, made it clear she is determined to fight her old rival Boris Johnson to the bitter end
Theresa May is more popular than Boris Johnson among Tory voters, according to a poll today
The shortened timetable favours established politicians like Mr Johnson and the Home Secretary as it deprives lesser known candidates of the time to build momentum. Either could be Prime Minister in just nine weeks.
Mr Hunt is also preparing to stand, and today suggested that a second referendum or a snap general election would be needed to rubber-stamp a new deal negotiated with the EU.
Mr Javid and Mr Crabb are said to be canvassing support for a potential ‘dream ticket’.
Britain should negotiate a deal to control its borders and then hold a second referendum, Jeremy Hunt suggested – as David Cameron claimed the results of the referendum could not be overturned
Britain should negotiate a deal to control its borders and then hold a second referendum, Jeremy Hunt suggested last night.
The Health Secretary called for whoever becomes Prime Minister to be allowed to ‘negotiate a deal’ with Brussels. He urged a ‘sensible compromise’ to restrict the free movement of EU migrants to the UK.
‘We must not invoke Article 50 straight away because that puts a time limit of two years on negotiations after which we could be thrown out with no deal at all,’ he wrote in the Daily Telegraph.
‘So before setting the clock ticking we need to negotiate a deal and put it to the British people either in the referendum or through the Conservative manifesto at a fresh general election.’
Mr Hunt is one of eight leading Tory MPs preparing to stand as a candidate to succeed David Cameron.
His idea was met with anger as it would overturn the democratic will of the majority of Britons who voted to leave the bloc last week.
Ukip MP Douglas Carswell said it was a plot by the Westminster elite, posting on Twitter: ‘And so it begins. The SW1 set manoeuvring to disregard the views of the people.’
He added: ‘It has now taken a minister less than 100 hours since polls closed to demand a new referendum. Dangerous territory.’
The row came as David Cameron claimed the results of the referendum could not be overturned as he set up a Whitehall unit to put Brexit into effect.
The Prime Minister told MPs he had established a team of civil servants to prepare the way for negotiations on withdrawal – a task he called the most ‘complex and important’ for decades.
Pro-Remain campaigners have suggested a second referendum to allow the public to think again, even though Leave won by four percentage points.
But in his first statement to the Commons since last week’s historic decision, the PM pointedly warned MPs not to seek to overturn the decision, saying: ‘There can be no doubt about the result.’
Mr Cameron said he was pressing ahead with the creation of a ‘Brexit unit’, with the Tories’ policy chief Oliver Letwin in charge of taking views from all sides on the next steps.
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