Advertisement

  1. National

Theresa May gains strong support from Conservative MPs

Theresa May has won the backing of four times as many MPs as any other candidate for the Conservative Party leadership, a survey by ITV News shows.

Of 139 MPs who have spoken to ITV News, 82 said they would be supporting the Home Secretary.

Earlier, Michael Gove declared himself "the candidate for change" as he set out his pitch to become Conservative leader and prime minister.

Gove said after last week's referendum vote for Brexit, the new prime minister must be someone who fought on the Leave side - effectively ruling out Mrs May, who was part of the Remain campaign, even though her contributions to it were notably low-key.

View all 62 updates ›

Stephen Crabb: 'Big push' needed for Brexit success

Mr Crabb has his hat in the ring for the Tory leadership Credit: PA

Stephen Crabb has called the Brexit vote to leave the EU a "new chance", but warned a "big national push" would be needed.

In an interview with The Times, the Remain campaigner who has thrown his hat in the ring for the Tory leadership, said the "out" vote would be implemented, but it was important to first establish the "overriding principles" that would guide negotiations.

He said "it is essential" the party showed "real substantial change on immigration" as part of that process.

Economically of course full access to the single market is a good thing ... but if we got to the end of a negotiated exit and immigration policy was essentially the same as it was now, we would have issues of trust with the electorate that would lead to huge problems.

– Stephen Crabb, Tory leadership candidate
  1. Read more
  2. 62 updates
Theresa May gains strong support from Conservative MPs

More on this story