Top Brexiteer Esther McVey reveals she’s running to be the next PM
The former Cabinet minister put her name forward to take over as Tory leader
BREXITEER Esther McVey today became the latest Tory to announce a run for No10.
The ex-Cabinet minister revealed she will put her name forward to replace Theresa May as party leader and PM.
And she vowed to reopen talks on Brexit to remove the hated Irish backstop from the existing deal.
Ms McVey joins a crowded field of at least 15 candidates vying to become Prime Minister after Mrs May quits.
Asked if she would throw her hat in the ring, she told talkRADIO: "I've always said quite clearly that if I got enough support from colleagues then yes I would, and now people have come forward and I have that support."
The former Work and Pensions Secretary praised Mrs May as "dutiful" but insisted it's now time for the PM to stand down.
She said: "It is about the delivery of Brexit, it is about having the team in place that can do that.
"You've got to have somebody that actually believes in Brexit. Get rid of that backstop and use the £39billion to get that free-trade agreement.
"You have to have belief in the opportunities of Brexit... you have to believe that the backstop must go, you need a new team of negotiators."
Ms McVey quit the Cabinet last year in protest at the withdrawal agreement negotiated by Mrs May.
In the leadership race she will go up against other Brexiteers including Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab.
Cabinet ministers planning to stand include Jeremy Hunt, Sajid Javid, Andrea Leadsom, Matt Hancock, Penny Mordaunt and Michael Gove.
And other less well-known Tories such as James Cleverly, Mark Harper and Steve Baker are also considering a tilt at No10.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online politics team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours