Theresa May announced on Friday she will resign on June 7, paving the way for a leadership contest to replace her to begin next week. Mrs May claimed it would always be a “matter of deep regret” that she failed to deliver Brexit. Speaking to BBC News, the European Research Group (ERG) member claimed he was yet to decide which Tory candidate he will support to replace the Prime Minister. But Mr Francois admitted he will support a strong Brexiteer like Steve Baker if he were to announce his candidacy. He said: “I genuinely haven’t decided yet. It will be a Brexiteer.

“If someone like Steve Baker was to run, I might be attracted to vote for Steve.

“Remember like me he continued to vote against the withdrawal agreement, even on so-called meaningful vote three.

“Boris folded, Dominic Raab folded, Steve didn’t.

“So, you know, I’m not sure if he’s going to run or not but if he did I’d probably be quite tempted to vote for Steve Baker.”

If someone like Steve Baker was to run, I might be attracted to vote for Steve

Mark Francois

Speaking to BBC News before Mr Francois, Steve Baker admitted that “out of respect” for those asking him to stand, he will seriously consider it. 

But admitted: “The two frontrunners are very clearly Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab.

“I think they have complementary talents. There is no point shying away from it, people have been asking me to stand. I have had a degree of support from across the country that I could never have foreseen.

“I have also had some MPs asking me to stand but I need to face up to the challenge of taking a decision on whether I should do it.

“I need to talk to the other candidates and I will need to reach a decision myself but obviously, while I am mulling that over, I could not back another candidate.”

Asked if he would stand, he responded: “It is conceivable, yes. It has come about because the third presentation of this deal, Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab and indeed David Davis and Esther McVey voted for and I did not and the combination of that and come if I say so myself, that degree I have provided to colleagues now for years, adamant that some colleagues said I should consider it from outside parliament, and I have had a lot of pressure to say I should stand.

“Obviously, I must consider it out of respect for those colleagues and members of the public.”

Former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is currently the bookies favourite, followed by Dominic Raab and David Lidington.

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