...but MPs’ battle to stop him is already in full swing

A CAMPAIGN to ‘Stop Boris’ swung into action in Westminster last night – amid warnings that some Tory MPs could force an election rather than allow him to become prime minister.

Mr Johnson is the runaway favourite to succeed Theresa May as Tory leader following a coup by backbench MPs this week that will see her step aside this summer.

But two ministers said opposition to the former foreign secretary is so strong that some would be prepared to vote against him if he tried to introduce a Queen’s Speech – sparking an election this autumn.

One said: ‘Boris cannot form a government, certainly not on a No Deal platform and probably not on any other. There are at least a dozen people on our side, me included, who would be prepared to vote against him on the Queen’s Speech.

‘Even with the DUP on board, that is the majority gone. Then we are straight into an election.’ Another minister said: ‘Boris is extremely popular with the members, but the situation is the opposite among his colleagues at Westminster.

‘He could obviously win a leadership election in the country but there is a real question mark about whether he can command a majority in Parliament.’

Conservative MP Phillip Lee issued a public warning that no Tory leader campaigning on a No Deal platform could hope to govern without an election.

Dr Lee, who is facing a deselection attempt in his Bracknell constituency after backing a second referendum, said: ‘Boris is not fit for purpose as prime minister, but this is not just about Boris the person. If any leader tries to make No Deal official Conservative policy then the Government does not last – it is going to lose a confidence vote.’

But one Cabinet minister cautioned against a general election – warning it would risk handing power to Jeremy Corbyn. Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, told the Daily Telegraph: ‘A general election before we’ve delivered Brexit would be a disaster. People don’t want it... We need to take responsibility for delivering on the referendum. A general election before that not only risks Jeremy Corbyn... it risks killing Brexit.’

Supporters of Mr Johnson insisted that he could reinvigorate a deflated Tory party, deliver Brexit and defeat Mr Corbyn.

Leading Eurosceptic Jacob Rees-Mogg said: ‘Boris would win back voters because he would deliver Brexit.’

Nadine Dorries said: ‘Boris would shore up the Tory vote – he is the best placed candidate to beat Corbyn.’

A YouGov poll for The Times last night found he was the first preference of 39 per cent of Tory members – far ahead of his nearest rival Dominic Raab on 13 per cent.

But, under the terms of the Tory leadership rules, he must first persuade his fellow MPs to rank him in the top two candidates whose names will go forward for election by the party’s 125,000 members.