Brexit supporter and Conservative leadership candidate Esther McVey claimed that she would oust cabinet Remainers if she was elected, on LBC radio on Wednesday morning. The former work and pensions secretary, who is committed to leaving by the October 31 deadline, said she would have a “Brexit-only” top team until that point. She told host Nick Ferrari: “I believe at the moment we actually have to have a team that believes in Brexit.

“This is the most difficult delivery that we have got to give and we have got to give it by October 31.

“I think you need to have people who believe in Brexit to deliver this by October 31.”

Mr Ferrari pressed: “So I can interpret that as a no, you wouldn’t have Remainers in your cabinet?”

Unambiguously, Ms McVey replied: “For the time being, to make sure we get this through – yes.”

Hardline Brexiteers demanded that the next prime minister deliver the UK’s departure from the bloc by the October 31 deadline at the first leadership hustings, organised by the One Nation group of centre-right Conservatives and held in private last night.

More than 80 MPs packed into a Commons committee room to hear from Mr Johnson, Andrea Leadsom, Sajid Javid and Rory Stewart.

Another drop-out saw the leadership contenders whittled down to 11, with Kit Malthouse joining James Cleverly in pulling out of the race ahead of the party setting out new rules to speed up the contest.

Candidates now need to secure support from eight MPs to enter the contest, at least 16 votes in the first ballot on June 13, and 32 in the second round on June 18.

The winner – and the next prime minister – will be decided by Tory members from the two candidates remaining at the end of the process by the week beginning July 22.

The Tory membership currently amounts to around 124,000 members as of March 2018.

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