Boris Johnson hires Tories’ election-winning guru Sir Lynton Crosby as Stephen Crabb joins race to be Prime Minister
His team worry about a pro-Remain stitch-up to get Theresa May and Stephen Crabb as final two in leadership contest
BORIS Johnson has sent for election-winning guru Sir Lynton Crosby to boost his campaign amid growing fears he will be forced out of the race to be Prime Minister in a pro-Remain stitch-up.
The front-runner to be the next Conservative party leader was spotted entering the London offices of David Cameron's Aussie political strategist first thing this morning.
The Brexit boss, along with his campaign chairman Michael Gove, met with the man who delivered the Tories their first majority in a General election in more than two decades last year.
It came as BoJo supporters began to worry Stephen Crabb and Theresa May could win enough support to keep him out of the race to be one of the two candidates on the shortlist to replace David Cameron.
But in a boost to the former Mayor of London, The Sun can reveal Environment Secretary Liz Truss is backing Boris.
Cabinet Officer Minister Matt Hancock has also met with Mr Johnson to discuss an endorsement.
On Tuesday afternoon Stephen Crabb, the pro-EU Pensions Secretary, officially declared he was in the race with an invitation to a drinks party tonight for MPs.
His team hace confirmed that Mr Crabb’s campaign will be run by Attorney-General Jeremy Wright, Education Minister Edward Timpson and MPs including Chloe Smith and David Morris.
He is also being supported by Business Secretary Sajid Javid, Justice Minister Andrew Selous and 2015 MP Simon Hoare.
Other Remain supporters including Home Secretary Theresa May and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt were today on the brink of declaring themselves in the race.
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One Boris-supporting MP said on Tuesday: "Downing Street loyalists are trying to run an establishment stitch-up to keep him off the ballot paper.
“They are appealing to people's loyalty to Dave and painting it as a revenge mission against Boris for what he's done.”
Yesterday, The Sun revealed Gavin Williamson - David Cameron’s Parliamentary Private Secretary - was backing Theresa May.
But in a blow to Mr Cameron, his former Deputy Chief of Staff Oliver Dowden has declared he’s backing Boris.
The MP for Hertsmere, who remains close to the current PM, confirmed last night he was on-board the Team Boris.
Other MPs backing Boris include fellow Old Etonian Kwasi Kwarteng and fellow blonde mopped Michael Fabricant.
Prominent backbenchers Jacob Rees-Mogg and Sir Nicholas Soames also came out in support of Mr Johnson's leadership bid today.