David Davis: Why I am best man to lead Tories

DAVID Davis has boasted that he has the credentials to lead the Conservative Party.

The former Brexit Secretary, who lost out to David Cameron in the 2005 leadership race, told Tatler magazine: ‘If this were an application for a job as a chief executive, I would probably win it. But it isn’t. And that isn’t the way the decision is done.’

He also told the magazine he did not regret persuading Theresa May to stay on after she lost her majority in the 2017 general election. Asked if that was the right decision, he said: ‘Who would your alternative have been?’

Mr Davis added that Mrs May ‘probably’ has another year as Tory leader and revealed he did not submit a letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister last year.

He also said that his wife had advised him to quit the Cabinet after Mrs May unveiled her controversial Chequers plan for Brexit in July. Boris Johnson followed hours later.