Remain members of Theresa May’s administration are desperately trying to shut out Boris Johnson and stop him getting into power. Sir Patrick McLoughlin, the former Conservative party chairman who is backing Jeremy Hunt to succeed Theresa May, said hardline Brexiteers “ideological” attachment to a no-deal Brexit is “reckless” and it would be electoral suicide if the likes of Mr Johnson clinched power. Sir Patrick, MP for the Derbyshire Dales, told the Sunday Times: “Defining ourselves as the Brexit party, pursuing the hardest form of Brexit with a parliament that will not deliver it, is a recipe for paralysis in government and suicide with the electorate.

“We are and must remain the Conservative Party, not the Vote Leave party.”

Tory MP Nadine Dorrie was quick to jump to Mr Johnson’s defence.

She claimed Sir McLoughlin’s comments were part of an orchestrated effort to defeat the frontrunner.

She said: “There has been a stop Boris campaign since the days of Michael Howard pushing forward Cameron and Osborne.

“Boris is a big winner. Many of those with their own eye on No10 aren’t a fan of that prospect.”

Sir McLoughlin was adamant the next Prime Minister should be a Remoaner but supports the need to Leave.

This position is adopted by Jeremy Hunt, who he backs, and rival contenders Sajid Javid and Matt Hancock.

Mr Johnson remains the bookies’ favourite to be the next Tory top dog when Theresa May steps down later this year.

But his route into power could come quicker than expected after a group of furious Tory MPs warned the rules governing challenges to the Tory Party leadership could be changed.

Former chairmen of the 1922 Committee, Lord Spicer and Lord Hamilton of Epsom, said the current rules state that only one no-confidence motion can be brought against a leader over a 2-month period.

However, the pair said this can be changed.

They said: “It is reported that in order to change this rule the whole Conservative Party constitution must be opened, a national convention called and even that a petition of 10,000 members is required. This is not the case.

”Conservative MPs are responsible for their party.

“If they wish to change these rules there is nothing standing in their way.”

Current chairman of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady said: “It is my understanding that the rules could in future be changed by the agreement of the 1922 executive.”

He added that it was “less certain that it would be possible to change the rules during the current period of grace which was initiated with the triggering of a confidence vote on December 12 last year”.

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