Esther McVey: Former minister will stand to succeed Theresa May

Esther McVey has declared she wants to succeed Theresa May as party leader.

The former work and pensions secretary quit the prime minister’s cabinet in November in protest at her Brexit deal.

“I have always said quite clearly if I got enough support from my colleagues, yes I would,” the MP for Tatton in Cheshire told TalkRadio.

“Now people have come forward and I have got that support, so I will be going forward.”

Ms McVey said her party needs a leader who “believes in Brexit” and possessed a “belief in the opportunities” it could bring.

The Leave-supporting MP added that Mrs May’s departure should be handled in a “dignified and graceful” way.

“We all know Theresa May is dutiful,” she said. “She has worked for public service for many years.”

She joins Commons leader Andrea Leadsom and International Development Secretary Rory Stewart in expressing an interest in the top job in recent days.

Ms Leadsom, who stood in 2016, told Good Morning Britain on Wednesday that she was “seriously considering” another run.

Mr Stewart confirmed to Sky News at the weekend that he would throw his hat into the ring when Mrs May steps aside.

The likes of Home Secretary Sajid Javid, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Environment Secretary Michael Gove, former foreign secretary Boris Johnson and former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab are also spoken of as potential candidates.

The PM has promised to stand down if she gets her Brexit deal through parliament.

But with no end to the Brexit impasse in sight, she is coming under increasing pressure to set out a more specific timetable for her departure.

Mrs May held talks with Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs, in Downing Street on Wednesday.

Sir Graham said afterwards that the PM had not offered any further clarity on her future, but agreed to meet with the committee’s 18-strong executive next week.

(c) Sky News 2019: Esther McVey: Former minister will stand to succeed Theresa May