Tory members name David Davis as favourite to replace May as leader

David Davis has topped a survey of Conservative members as the candidate to replace Theresa May as leader but most want the Prime Minister to remain in post.

More than a fifth (21 per cent) of Conservatives want the Brexit Secretary to take over from the Prime Minister, according to a study by academics.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is his main rival on 17 per cent, while backbencher Jacob Rees-mogg made a surprise entry as the third choice with 6 per cent, the 0 21 per cent of Tories want the Brexit Secretary to take over party members project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council found.

But more than a quarter (26 per cent) did not know or declined to say who they wanted to see as Mrs May’s suc- cessor, according to the data obtained by a Sunday newspaper.

And 71 per cent said they were reluctant for the PM to quit now compared to 22 per cent who want her to go.

Mrs May was forced to warn the Cabinet that divisions in the party could pave the way for Jeremy Corbyn to take the keys to No 10 after her top team was plunged into open warfare following a series of vicious briefings against Chancellor Philip Hammond.

Senior members of the 1922 Committee, which represents Tory backbenchers, have indicated there is no appetite for a leadership election.