Who could take over as leader of the Conservatives?

BORIS Johnson’s resignation after haemorrhaging support among his ministers and MPs will fire the starting gun for a contest to replace him.

Here are some of the potential frontrunners to be the new Tory leader:

Steve Baker: Prominent Brexiteer and former minister Steve Baker, a senior Tory backbencher, confirmed yesterday that he is seriously considering putting himself forward for the top job. Suella Braverman: The Attorney General launched an unlikely leadership bid as support for Mr Johnson crumbled around him on Wednesday night.

Sir Robert Buckland: The new Secretary of State for Wales has declined to rule out running as Tory leader.

Jeremy Hunt: The former foreign secretary and ex-health secretary has been a persistent backbench critic of Mr Johnson. Mr Hunt is widely expected to make a fresh bid for the leadership, having been runner-up to Mr Johnson in 2019.

Sajid Javid: Mr Javid made it to the final four in the contest to replace Theresa May as Tory leader in 2019, but dropped out and subsequently endorsed Mr Johnson.

Penny Mordaunt: Another frontrunner with the bookies – the 5/1 favourite according to one firm – Ms Mordaunt made waves in 2019 as the UK’s first female defence secretary before being fired by Mr Johnson shortly after he became Prime Minister.

Rishi Sunak: Perhaps the frontrunner – with odds of 7/2 with one bookmaker – the former chancellor’s rise from relative obscurity to household name came as he turned on the spending taps to protect jobs through the furlough scheme.

Liz Truss: The Foreign Secretary has made little secret of her leadership ambitions.

Ben Wallace: The Defence Secretary has won admirers in Westminster for his straight-talking and straightforward approach, particularly among Tory MPs who pressed for the UK to increase its defence spending, although cuts to the size of the Army remain a cause for concern.