Michael Gove now second favourite among Tories to replace Theresa May behind Jacob Rees-Mogg
1 min read
Michael Gove is now second favourite to replace Theresa May as Tory leader, according to a new poll of Tory supporters.
The Environment Secretary comes ahead of the Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson but behind arch Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg.
The poll by the ConservativeHome website puts Mr Rees-Mogg at 20% support, with Mr Gove just behind at 19% and Mr Johnson on 14%.
The change signals a remarkable recovery since Mr Gove’s botched leadership bid in 2016, which saw his popularity plummet.
It also comes on the back of a difficult week for Mrs May who was once again forced to defend her leadership on a trip to China.
She told reporters: “I’ve said to you before, I‘m not a quitter and there is a long-term job to be done.
“That job is about getting the best Brexit deal, about ensuring that we take back control of our money, our laws, our borders, that we can sign trade deals around the rest of the world. But it is also about our domestic agenda.”
PoliticsHome revealed last week how the Prime Minister's future was being openly discussed at Westminster, and that she could be challenged if her party suffers a bad night in May's local elections.
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