Boris Johnson storms ahead in Tory leadership race with moderate MP support

Three moderate Tory ministers have backed the ex-Foreign Secretary’s campaign as the contest to lead the party, and the country, heats up.

Rishi Sunak, Robert Jenrick and Oliver Dowden — described Borish  Johnson as a “One Nation Conservative” and claim that he has the ability to “inspire the country and revitalise our party” in a piece for The Times

It extends Mr Johnson’s lead over his nearest rivals.

Mr Johnson has 40 public endorsements, both Michael Gove and Jeremy Hunt have secured 24.

It comes as Mr Johnson warned fellow Tories they were facing an “existential crisis” which could even mean the “extinction of this great party”.

Mr Johnson sounded the alarm that failing to leave the EU by the end of October could see his party dealt a fatal blow.

Speaking at a closed doors hustings far from the public eye, Mr Johnson spelled out the tough challenges facing his party.

He told a packed room in the House of Commons: “We are looking at a very difficult situation and we must get ready, eventually but not immediately, to beat Jeremy Corbyn and put Farage back in his box.”

In what onlookers described as a more “subdued” performance for the normally ebullient former London mayor  warned about the twin dangers of Labour and the Brexit party.

He added: “I believe I am best placed to lift this party, beat Jeremy Corbyn and excite people about conservatism and conservative values.

“We need to realised the depth of the problems we face – unless we get on and do this thing (brexit), we will be punished for a very long time.

“There is a very real choice between getting Brexit done and the potential extinction of this great party – but I believe I can take on Farage and win back the voters being won over by him.”

The One Nation hustings were the first chance for leadership hopefuls to battle it out.

Speakers included Sajid Javid, Andrea Leadsom, Rory Stewart and Boris Johnson spoke tonight with Dominic Raab, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove and Matt Hancock taking part tomorrow.

Yesterday the Conservative Party changed the rules of the contest to quickly knock out candidates with little support.

Candidates will now need to win 5% of votes, 16 Tory MPs, in the first ballot and then 10%, 32 MPs, in the second in order to progress.

Once Conservative MPs have chosen the final two candidates, the new leader will be chosen by all members of the party.

The first ballot will take place on Thursday 13th June.

Further ballots are scheduled for 18th June, 19th June and 20th June.

It means a new leader would take office in the week beginning July 22.