Boris Johnson and Michael Gove are heading for ‘clash of the titans’ showdown in the race to be PM
BORIS Johnson and Michael Gove are heading for a ‘clash of the titans’ final showdown in the race to be PM, senior Tories now believe.
A rush of support behind the Environment Secretary in recent days has convinced Cabinet Ministers and backers in both leadership camps that the two former Vote Leave champions will be the pair battling it out for No10.
Mr Gove enraged Tory members in 2016 by withdrawing his support for his fellow Brexiteer on the eve of his leadership launch.
One former Cabinet Minister told The Sun on Wednesday: “Everyone now believes it will be Boris against Michael – the contest really that we should have had 3 years ago. It’s like time has stood still.”
A Cabinet source added: “The first thing the new PM will have to do is ask for an extension. Only Boris or Gove could carry that off.”
A Conservative Home poll said Boris Johnson remained the clear frontrunner among Tory members with 33 per cent of the vote.
But while Dominic Raab is second on 15.5 per cent but Michael Gove is third on 12.4 per cent.
And bookies William Hill made Mr Gove second favourite ahead of Dominic Raab – cutting his odds from 5-1 to 7-2.
Mr Gove has cashed in on a series of mistakes by Jeremy Hunt.
Tory sources on Wednesday claimed he upset MPs by publicising his call for Theresa May to step down last week. And Eurosceptic Tories were livid after he flip-flopped on Brexit and branded a No Deal “political suicide”.
Tory MPs whittle the Tory contenders down through a series of knock-out votes to a final two. The pair will then compete for the votes of 130,000 Tory members who elect a winner.
Eurosceptic Tories on Wednesday night urged the various Brexit-backers in the 11-strong Tory leadership race to settle their differences and throw their weight behind one candidate.
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A senior source said: “You’d hope if Boris and Gove get through and one is 80 per cent ahead they’ll shake hands and move on.”
Mark Francois, vice chair of the Tory Eurosceptic ERG group, said: “What the ConHome poll shows as plain as a pike staff, is that our party members are not going to elect as Prime Minister anyone who voted for Remain in 2016.
“After everything they have been through over the last few years they are going to pick a Brexiteer and for the Remainers it is already all over.”
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