Philip Hammond mocks leadership hopefuls for an ‘unintended suicide pact’ in failed bids to become PM
The Chancellor singled out Michael Gove and Boris Johnson — and in a jokey Washington DC speech he suggested Andrea Leadsom also 'knifed herself'
CHANCELLOR Philip Hammond has mocked Tory leadership hopefuls for taking part in an “unintended suicide pact” in their failed bids to become PM.
He singled out Michael Gove and Boris Johnson, who both lost out to Theresa May during the last leadership contest in 2016.
In a speech in Washington, Mr Hammond also suggested Andrea Leadsom had “knifed herself” at the same time.
He joked that he might be the only Tory MP not to be setting out his stall for a new anticipated contest, which would see a much “wider field,” the Daily Telegraph reported.
It comes after Tory grandees have been accused of launching a 'stop Boris campaign' to make sure Boris Johnson can never become Prime Minister.
Remain-backing MPs are jostling for position to try and shut out the Brexiteer big beast.
But his backers insisted Boris is a 'big winner' who has been targeted by targeted by enemies in the party for more than a decade.
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Boris Johnson is the bookies' favourite to take over from Theresa May when she quits later this year.
In recent days Sajid Javid launched his own leadership campaign with a speech to Tory MPs where he emphasised his humble roots.
And Dominic Raab laid out his pitch by calling for huge cuts in stamp duty to help renters get on to the property ladder.
Other leading contenders are likely to include Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove and Matt Hancock.
Former leader Ian Duncan Smith called for Theresa May to step down as soon as next month after delaying Brexit for a second time.
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He told Sky News: "I know that the Prime Minister has already said she's going.
"She said she would go as and when the agreement was ratified which was looking at around about May, June. I think those dates still stand."
After the PM formally announces her resignation, Tory MPs will spend a few weeks picking two candidates to go to a vote of the whole party membership.
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