Jacob tops poll of Tories

JACOB Rees-Mogg has topped a poll of grassroots Tories on who should be the next party leader – as a minister cast doubt on Theresa May’s suggestion she would fight the next election.

Mr Rees Mogg, who has never held ministerial office, was the favourite of activists and members to succeed Mrs May with more than one fifth of votes.

The poll, by the influential Conservative Home website, also suggested Conservatives are disillusioned with the Cabinet, with ‘other’ coming second on 19 per cent. Brexit Secretary David Davis was third and justice minister Dominic Raab fourth.

It came as trade minister Greg Hands refused to back Mrs May’s claim she would fight another election as Tory leader.

He would say only she is the right person to lead the country ‘at the moment’.