Boris Johnson 'is hot favourite to replace Theresa May as prime minister' among Tory members

Boris Johnson is the hot favourite to replace Theresa May as the next prime minister among Conservative Party members.

The Foreign Secretary is backed by 23% of Tories to succeed the current PM according to a new poll, which was conducted by YouGov for The Times.

The results suggest Johnson’s recent gamble on Brexit, in which he published a 4,000 word article setting out his vision of Britain’s future outside the European Union just days before a key speech from the Prime Minister on the same topic, paid off.

The poll has Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, hot on Johnsons’s heels with 19% of the vote, followed by high-profile backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg on 17%.

Brexit secretary David Davis was in fourth place with 11%, followed by Home Secretary Amber Rudd with just 6%.

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Theresa May has pledged to fight the next election herself however, telling the BBC yesterday: “I’m in it for the long term and there’s a job to be done and I will be fighting the next election.”

She currently lacks the support of her party, however, with just 29 per cent of Conservatives saying she should contest the next election.