Brexit will put Boris in line for Tory leadership Grassroots vote

BORIS JOHNSON will be in a position to win the Conservative leadership contest if Britain votes to leave the European Union, grassroots Conservatives have suggested.

Ed Costelloe, the chairman of Grassroots Conservatives, said Mr Johnson already enjoyed “huge popularity” among Conservative Party members.

He said his decision to join the campaign for Britain to leave the EU gives him a significant advantage over other leadership hopefuls.

Mr Costelloe said: “If it goes to Brexit it will put him in a stronger position because the other contenders are attached to David Cameron’s coat tails.

“It could be a game-changer for him. There is a great bloc of people in the Conservative Party who are in favour of leaving the European Union.

“The people who want to get out are very vociferous. It might sway a number of people. He is a hugely popular figure.”

Under Conservative Party rules, MPs vote to narrow the field of candidates down to two contenders, before party members are given the decisive vote.

One senior Conservative MP said: “It’s fairly obvious that had he not done this his prospects would have been significantly damaged.

“His position is now in tune with the majority view of the Conservative Party members.

“It was previously suggested that the Conservative Party leadership elections would be a coronation for George. That idea has looked significantly outdated for some time now.”

Last night, The Guardian reported that a survey of almost 70 Conservative constituency parties it had conducted found only two in favour of remaining in the EU. While some were reluctant to express a view, more than six said their members were split 50-50, while 17 parties said a majority of their members were in favour of quitting the EU.

David Cameron earlier this month provoked fury by suggesting that MPs should ignore the views of their constituency associations and vote with their consciences.

Representatives of more than 40 Conservative associations accused the Prime Minister of showing “disrespect” to those who campaigned tirelessly to deliver him a majority at the election.

In a letter to The Sunday Telegraph, they said Mr Cameron had “undermined” goodwill among loyal members and warned him: “No prime minister has a divine right to rule.” Some Tories now believe the row will drive some activists into the arms of Ukip.