One in four Tory members think David Davis should be the next leader, but even more think none of the current options are a good choice
24 per cent of those surveyed think the Brexit Secretary should be the next Conservative leader, after Theresa May
ALMOST one in four Tory members think David Davis should be the next leader of the party - but even more of them think none of the choices on offer are a good option.
24 per cent of those surveyed think the Brexit Secretary should be the next Conservative leader, after Theresa May.
A fresh poll of 1,191 members for the revealed he was the one they were most keen on to take over from the Prime Minister, when the time comes.
But Davis was the favourite to take over in the 2005 leadership contest, in which he was beaten by David Cameron.
This poll showed he was followed by Boris Johnson on 18 per cent, then Priti Patel on eight per cent, and Philip Hammond on seven per cent.
Amber Rudd, Damian Green and Sajid Javid were not popular, the poll showed.
However, those who thought that none of the options were suitable was around 30 per cent.
Other names who were floated by members included Dominic Raab, Micheal Gove, and Tobias Elwood.
Some members also said that they were keen to see newer MPs fight to become the next leader - many of those suggested were from the 2005, 2010 or even 2015 intakes.
Last month Mr David refused to say he would not run for the top job.
But the Brexit Secretary said that having a leadership challenge at the current time, where talks with the EU have just begun, would be "catastrophic".
And he branded leadership plotting among Tories “self-indulgent” as he praised the PM’s skills.
But pushed on the BBC’s Marr Show if he’d confirm that he wouldn’t stand against her until Brexit talks were done and dusted, he would only say: “I’m not going to get into it”.
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The poll today comes after another survey from Conservative home yesterday revealed a huge drop in support for the Prime Minister.
Leadership contender Boris Johnson has also slid down the rankings according to a shock new poll, while his rival to replace the Prime Minister – Mr Davis – has seen his support skyrocket.
ConHome editor Paul Goodman said: “Theresa May has endured a record fall -137 points shredded in a single go. Party members want her out as leader – though not yet.”
It’s an even bigger fall than the one suffered by Chancellor Philip Hammond after his screeching National Insurance U-turn.
And it reflects the stunning transformation in fortunes suffered by the PM in a matter of months.
In April, pollsters Ipsos Mori said Theresa May was more popular with voters than any leader since the late 1970s.
