Who is David Lidington? All you need to know about Theresa May's 'deputy'

Theresa May faces a full-blown coup of her own ministers amid growing anger over her handling of Brexit.

And among the names being lined up to replace her if she steps aside is David Lidington, her deputy in all but name.

You may have seen him standing in for Mrs May at Prime Minister’s Question when she’s out of the country.

And there’s an outside chance you might have seen him on University Challenge.

But the Cabinet Office minister is neither a household name, nor the most exciting Tory MP.

So who is he, and what is he about?

Here’s everything you need to know about him and his background.

Who?

You’d be forgiven for never having heard of David Lidington. Despite being the second most powerful minister in government he’s not a particularly high profile MP.

But Theresa May appointed him Leader of the House of Commons before promoting him to her deputy in all but name.

Because she doesn’t have an official deputy leader, that could put him next in line to replace her if she quits.

Really, who?

David Lidington has been Tory MP for Aylesbury since 1992.

He’s grammar school educated, and studied at Cambridge, where he was chair of the Conservative Association.

In the Tory wilderness years of the early 2000s, he served as Shadow DEFRA and Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary.

When David Cameron took power in 2010, he was made Europe minister, a job he kept until he was shuffled to Leader of the House in July.

That makes him the longest serving Europe Minister ever. 

Now you mention it, I might have seen him before

Well, he has now stepped in for Theresa May at Prime Minister’s Questions a few times.

On his first occasion he did OK, and promised the Government would review the case of an 18-year-old jobseeker who took his own life after being “belittled” by Jobcentre staff.

But Emily Thornberry won the battle of the stand-ins.

No, that isn’t it – longer ago

He captained Sidney Sussex to victory in the 1978 series of University Challenge – and appeared in a BBC special.

Anything else we should know?

He was given a CBE in David Cameron‘s widely criticised resignation honours list.

And in May 2009, it was revealed he had claimed £1,300 on expenses for dry cleaning.

He also claimed for toothpaste, shower gel, body spray and vitamin supplements on his second home allowance.

He repaid the claims for the toiletries, saying: “I accept that many people would see them as over-generous.”

Do people like the idea of him being Prime Minister?

One senior cabinet minister told the Mail on Sunday: “The British public will never forgive us if, in a time of historical crisis, our answer is David Lidington.”