IN THE HUNT
Jeremy Hunt says Trump should back him instead of Boris Johnson to be the next PM
JEREMY Hunt today said Donald Trump that he should get behind HIM for the next Tory leader - instead of Boris Johnson.
The pair had a chat today on the tarmac as soon as he touched down in Britain for his state visit.
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The Foreign Secretary told him the country would "put on a great show for him" and he was "delighted" to welcome him and his kids.
But the pair didn't discuss the Tory leadership race - which Mr Hunt is chasing Boris for the top job.
Mr Hunt told Sky News today: "If he'd asked me about that I'd have said that Boris Johnson has much shorter odds at Ladbrokes than I do, so if he really wants to make money it has to be Hunt."
And he added: "I'm not seeking anyone's endorsement except those of Conservative party members, they're the ones who decide this."
Boris got the backing of the US President in a bombshell interview with The Sun on Saturday, saying he'd do a "very good job".
The President said ahead of his first state visit to Britain: "I like him. I have always liked him. I don’t know that he is going to be chosen, but I think he is a very good guy, a very talented person.
“He has been very positive about me and our country.
“I actually have studied it very hard. I know the different players.
“But I think Boris would do a very good job. I think he would be excellent.”
The bookies have the Foreign Secretary trailing behind Boris in the latest odds for the Tory leadership.
Today Boris officially kicked off his campaign with his bid to unify the country after Brexit.
In an animated video he promised to lead Britain out of the EU by October 31, with or without a deal - and said he was the only candidate who can win voters back to the Tories.
He also pledged to spend at least £5,000 on every secondary school pupil in England if he becomes PM.
This morning he released a video, filmed on the campaign trail in Peterborough, which showed him canvassing voters ahead of the by-election there.
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The Tory leadership race is heating up as the countdown to Theresa May's departure continues.
She's set to officially step down at the end of the week after the US President's visit is over.
Today Dominic Raab insisted in an article for Brexit Central that leaving on WTO terms without a deal was far better than Mrs May's flawed deal.
He wrote: "It is time to bring this tortuous Brexit process to an end. It is time for a clean break. We should keep the arm of friendship extended to our EU neighbours. But, if we have to leave on a WTO basis, then so be it."
Currently there are 13 candidates in the running, prompting top Tory James Brokenshire today to demand some of them drop out as they haven't got a chance.
The May ally, who is not running himself, said earlier the contest was a "shambles" and "in danger of becoming a rather tragic farce unless some order is brought into it".
There have been calls for Tories to change the rules to ensure that everyone running has the support of more MPs - which would knock some contenders out.
Tory MPs will whittle the list down to two, and then the members will decide the next Prime Minister by the end of July.
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Boris Johnson launches campaign to become next PM as he pledges to 'deliver Brexit and unite our fantastic country'
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