Health Secretary Matt Hancock drops huge hint he may join Tory leadership race

MATT Hancock entered the Tory leadership race yesterday as he called for party to “skip a generation” when replacing Theresa May.

The 40 year-old Health Secretary said the party should pick a leader who has not been “tainted” by Brexit.

2

And while he refused to be drawn on his own intentions, he said there was an “amazing array” of talent “bubbling with ideas”.

Odds on the ambitious Minister and close ally of ex-Chancellor George Osborne replacing the PM have fallen dramatically in recent days from 66-1 to as low as 12-1.

He has held back from commenting in recent days as NINE other colleagues have thrown their hat in the ring.

But speaking to the Telegraph he dropped a huge hint he would run.

Challenged about what should happen when Mrs May goes he said: “There will be a moment when we need to make a generational shift in the Conservative Party.

MOST READ IN BREXIT

EUROPEAN UNION

All about Nigel Farage's wife Kirsten - plus find out about his kids

END OF THE LOAN

Brexit saving taxpayers more than £300m a year in unpaid EU student loans

EU'RE JOKING

France & Germany will NOT extradite criminals to the UK after Brexit

EU TONGUE TIED

Moaning France complain that the EU is still using English despite Brexit

And having delivered Brexit, then cast forward to the great exciting future we have got as a country, we can build for that.”

His comments come after Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, Theresa May’s campaign manager in 2016, said a senior Brexiteer should lead the party through the next phase of negotiations.

Mr Hancock said he still believed Theresa May’s Brexit deal could get through the Commons next week – saying: “I don’t think that’s impossible."

2

• GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]