Matt Hancock backs Boris Johnson for No10 in a huge blow for Tory leadership rivals
HEALTH Secretary Matt Hancock has backed Boris Johnson for No 10 in a huge blow for the Tory heavyweight’s rivals.
Mr Hancock — booted out of the leadership race last week — said Mr Johnson was the “unity” candidate to bring Britain together.
But it comes less than three weeks after Matt Hancock launched an expletive-laced attack against him.
He had accused Boris Johnson of being wrong to say “f*** business” during Brexit negotiations.
An insider said Mr Hancock had come to terms with the fact that he needed to put aside his differences with the bookies’ favourite.
He is now almost certain to be lined up for a plum job in Mr Johnson’s first Cabinet if he wins.
But one furious Tory said last night: “Matt is throwing his morals out the window. To coin a phrase, he’s saying ‘I need a f**king job’.”
Others pointed to the influence of former mentor and ex-Tory Chancellor George Osborne — who has been supportive of Mr Johnson’s campaign.
The move comes despite almost all of Mr Hancock’s 19 backers among Tory MPs switching to either Rory Stewart or Michael Gove. And it comes 24 hours after arch-Brexiteer Esther McVey also backed Mr Johnson.
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Boris Johnson also has the backing of ex-Met Police chief Bernard Hogan-Howe, who said he found Mr Johnson to be “loyal, honourable and effective” when London Mayor.
Ex-Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom — also knocked out last week — is said to be undecided.
Mr Johnson is marching towards 150 votes in Tuesday’s second round of voting. But sources claim rival Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, is worried he may struggle to get the 33 votes needed to stay in the contest.
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