Mr Johnson has become the outstanding favourite to win the contest since Theresa May announced her resignation last month. The former Foreign Secretary received 114 votes in the first round of voting on Thursday ahead of Jeremy Hunt and Michael Gove. Speaking on BBC Newsnight, Tory MP, Robert Buckland praised Mr Johnson as the right man for the job despite once supporting the UK staying within the EU. Mr Buckland added: “When the chips are down, Boris Johnson knows how to seriously negotiate.

“I am convinced that he will take this with the utmost seriousness.

“He will assemble a team around him who will follow up on his policy of wanting to achieve a deal.

“That is something I wholeheartedly support.”

Mr Johnson has surged into the lead in the leadership race as he has termed himself as the only man to stop Jeremy Corbyn from entering Number 10.

Moreover, Mr Johnson has previously stated that he is the one candidate to “Nigel Farage back in his box” amid the Brexit Party’s rising support.

Starting as a list of 13 candidates, there are now six Tory MPs left in the race to become the next Prime Minister.

Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock recently withdrew himself from the race after receiving 20 votes in the first ballot on Thursday.

Speaking after his withdrawal from the race, Mr Hancock said he was “focused on the future” but the party needed a leader to succeed in “the here and now”.

He told BBC deputy political editor, John Pienaar: “I’ve been incredibly encouraged and humbled by the amount of support that I’ve had in this campaign.

“I’ve tried to make the argument about the values that the Conservative Party needs to hold dear, of free enterprise and support for a free society and being open and optimistic and enthusiastic about the future.

“But the party clearly is looking for a candidate to deal with the here and now.

“I very much put myself forward as the candidate focused on the future.”

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