Speaking to BBC News, the political scientist claimed various polls indicated the former Foreign Secretary was the only Tory leadership hopeful people trusted to deliver Brexit. Mr Curtice argued a recent YouGov poll showed Boris Johnson as the only potential Tory leader that would cause Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party support to collapse. He said: “He looks like the one person that might be able to persuade some of the Brexit Party supporters to come back to the Conservative Party.

“One poll done by YouGov, for example, asked people what they would vote with all varieties of candidates standing and he was the only one where the Conservative vote really went up and the Brexit Party really went down.

“Another poll asking people whether they would vote for the Conservatives, only Boris Johnson in that poll had more people among Brexit Party supporters who say they would be more likely to vote for them rather than less likely.

“Now, that said, maybe a bit of a downside: remember that the Conservative Party did lose some people to the Democrats on the Conservative more Remain disposition.

“Maybe Boris Johnson would be a bit of a loser in that area.

He looks like the one person that might be able to persuade some of the Brexit Party supporters to come back

John Curtice

“But I think so far on his opponents he has net advantage. Boris Johnson seems to be the one person that is capable of that.

“He’s got two things: one is he’s a very clear Brexiteer – after all he was probably the most public face of the Leave campaign – he’s now willing to contemplate going for no deal.

“And he also is charismatic, he has a history of being able to be electorally successful – not least as Mayor of London – and given the difficulties the Conservative Party faces itself with, with a deal that cannot get through the House of Commons and a Brexit Party that is breathing down its neck, you can see why Boris Johnson would be attractive.”

The former London Mayor is drawing up plans to raise the 40p income tax threshold to £80,000 at a cost of almost £10 billion.

The higher rate of income tax currently applies on earnings over £50,000 in England and the move could benefit more than three million people.

But Mr Johnson’s leadership rivals tore into his priorities as the battle for Number 10 intensified.

Michael Gove said: “One thing I will never do as prime minister is to use our tax and benefits system to give the already wealthy another tax cut.”

Dominic Raab said he would rather cut taxes for the lowest paid rather than what would be interpreted as “the caricature that you’re the party of privilege and you are only in it to help the wealthy”.

Matt Hancock said he would reduce tax on working people “when we can afford it”.

Andrea Leadsom said it would be “impossible” for Mr Johnson to get his plans through the current Parliament.

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