David Davis warns Tory leadership contest would be 'catastrophic' for Brexit negotiations

David Davis has warned it would be “catastrophic” for the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union if the Tories engaged in a leadership contest during negotiations with the bloc.

However, the Brexit Secretary refused to rule out challenging Theresa May himself to be leader in the future.

His comments come after Boris Johnson ruled out running to be Tory leader until after Brexit is delivered in 2019.

Meanwhile, Priti Patel, the International Development Secretary, has also refused to be drawn on her own leadership ambitions.

Mr Davis was asked on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show if a Tory leadership contest would be “catastrophic” for Brexit and he replied: “Yes. Listen, let me be absolutely plain about this. Number one, I happen to think we have got a very good Prime Minister.

“I know she is coming under a lot of pressure at the moment but I have seen her in action, I have seen a number of prime ministers in operation over the years - I go right back to Margaret Thatcher - and I think she is very good, she makes good decisions, she is bold, she takes her time.

“There is no essay crisis about this Government. It is very, very, very clear that she is a good prime minister.

“That’s point number one. Point number two is I want a stable backdrop to this Brexit negotiation.

“It is hard work by the way.”

Mr Davis accused those pushing for a leadership contest within the Conservative Party of being “self-indulgent”.

But he swerved the opportunity to rule out a future leadership challenge.

When told he could follow Mr Johnson’s lead and confirm he would not stand against Mrs May until after Brexit, he would not commit.

He said: “Look, I’m not going to get into it. It’s self-indulgent. Frankly the fact that we have spent two minutes on it is self-indulgent.”

Mr Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, has previously ruled out running to be Tory leader until after Brexit is delivered because he said “we have to get on and deliver on the priorities of the people".

Britain is due to leave the European Union in March 2019 which means that any leadership campaign could take place that summer.

There has been plenty of speculation about who could be in the running to be the next leader of the Tories.

But Ms Patel would not be drawn when she appeared on ITV’s Peston on Sunday programme.

Asked if she would put herself forward, she said: “If you heard what I have just said you will clearly recognise that I am talking about getting on with doing the job that not just myself but other colleagues are involved in.”