George Galloway has claimed Boris Johnson is the “one to watch” ahead of the Conservative leadership challenge to take over Brexit negotiations within the next few months. Theresa May opened up the campaign to take over Number 10 after she announced plans to step down on June 7 after failing to secure the support of MPs for her proposed Brexit withdrawal agreement three times. Mr Johnson has emerged as a clear favourite to become Prime Minister, with Mr Galloway suggesting Britons may see a new leader sooner than they expect as he pointed out similarities between the former Foreign Secretary and war-time hero Winston Churchill. 

Speaking to talkRADIO, the former Labour MP said: “The man to watch is Boris Johnson, who was born in the United States of America just like Winston Churchill’s mother was an American.

“Boris Johnson is half-American, he is the man to watch. He is the man I predict will be the Prime Minister at the end of June.

“That’s quite a quick contest, quicker than normal – they will have to pull out all the stops – but I predict it will be Prime Minister Johnson.”

So far 11 Tory MPs have announced plans to stand in the leadership challenge but Mr Galloway suggested most participants will “fall at the first or the second hurdle.”

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Former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab confirmed on Sunday he will run to succeed Mrs May at Number 10 as he admitted to preferring to see Britain quit the European Union with a former arrangement with Brussels.

The Esher and Walton MP, who resigned in November in opposition to the Prime Minister’s proposed Brexit agreement, said: “The country now feels stuck in the mud, humiliated by Brussels and incapable of finding a way forward.

“The Prime Minister has announced her resignation. It’s time for a new direction.”

Andrea Leadsom also threw her hat into the ring after resigning from her role as leader of the House of Common while European elections were in full swing last Thursday.

International Development Secretary Rory Stewart, Home Secretary Sajid David and former Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey also announced they will stand to become Prime Minister after Mrs May. 

Michael Gove and Jeremy Hunt have also launched their bid for the leadership of the Conservative Party.

While Theresa May attended one of the last EU Summits alongside fellow leaders in Brussels, Speaker of the House John Bercow sparked the ires of Brexiteers after dismissing suggestions the UK will quit the bloc “deal or no deal.”

Both Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab have suggested they would be willing to leave the bloc without a formal arrangement if no agreeable withdrawal deal is found by October 31 – the new Brexit deadline.

During a speech in the US, Mr Bercow said: “The idea the House won’t have its say is for the birds.

“The idea that Parliament is going to be evacuated from the centre stage of debate on Brexit is unimaginable.

“There is a difference between a legal default position and what the interplay of different political forces in parliament will facilitate.”

Claims the UK could still leave the EU without a deal could result in Mr Bercow seeking a way to get Remainers within Parliament to stage a vote on an emergency debate, and to allow MPs to create a law blocking a no deal scenario from happening.

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