Suffolk MP confirms bid to replace Theresa May as PM

Hancock: Formally announced his candidacy Credit: PA Images

Suffolk MP Matt Hancock has confirmed he will be standing to replace Theresa May as Prime Minister.

In an interview on BBC Radio 4 he formally announced his candidacy.

the Health Minister told the programme the Conservatives needed a "leader for the future".

He'll join the likes of Boris Johnson, Esther McVey, Rory Stewart and Jeremy Hunt in bidding to replace Mrs May at Number 10 after she announced her resignation yesterday.

Bookmakers have the West Suffolk MP at 50/1 for the top job.

The 40-year-old's previous role as digital, culture, media and sport secretarysaw him launch his own app, to some mockery, and he has pushed his digital transformation agenda hard.Known for being close to George Osborne and David Cameron, he has said the new leader should put the Tories "four square in the centre ground".<

South Northamptonshire MP Andrea Leadsom is also seriously considering standing for PM.

Mrs Leadsom, 56, has previously described the UK's continued membership of the EU as "disgusting" and claimed that a Eurosceptic prime minister would have delivered Brexit already.

Earlier this month she told ITV's Political Correspondent Paul Brand she had learned from her last failed Conservative leadership bid to be more focused and prepared.

The leader of the House of Commons, who withdrew from the 2016 race with Mrs May after her comments on motherhood in a newspaper interview sparked controversy, suggested she will change her strategy for a second bid to run both her party and the country.

"I've been determined over the last three years to support the prime minister in getting her Brexit deal over the line. She has said that she is going to stand down and so yes I am seriously considering (standing for leader),"

Mrs Leadsom quit the last contest after telling The Times having children gave her a "very real stake" in Britain's future - in contrast to Mrs May, who was denied motherhood.