Esther Mcvey

Age: 51

Odds: 50/1

Brexit pitch:

While she is wellknown and wellliked on the Tory backbenches, the former work and pensions secretary has until now remained out of the leadership rumours doing the rounds in Westminster.

That changed yesterday when she admitted during a live interview that she would give the prospect of running “serious” thought and warned Mrs May that her loyalty would only be guaranteed if she went back to Brussels to renegotiate.

Separately, a Brexiteer MP close to Ms Mcvey told one Sunday newspaper that she was “hunger wearing lipstick”.

Another claimed that she had been seen dining with Steve Baker, the main organiser behind the Tory European Research Group, triggering speculation that the group could offer her its support.

However, questions linger over her ability to cope under pressure, with critics pointing to the cloud still hanging over her over her handling of Universal Credit in the run-up to her resignation.