ANDREA Leadsom has backed Boris Johnson to be the next PM – after she was booted out of the contest last week.

The Brexiteer threw her weight behind the frontrunner ahead of the next round of voting later today.

She told LBC that he was the best person to get Britain out of the EU no matter what happens.

"I think he will be a very good leader for our country," she said.

And she supports his strong stance to walk away if we can't get what we want, adding: "For any negotiation to be successful, you have to be prepared to walk away."

Her endorsement will be seen as a sign that Brexiteers will be piling in behind Boris, rather than their Leave-rivals Michael Gove and Dominic Raab who are floundering in the contest.

And it shows he's getting support right across the Tory spectrum after Matt Hancock backed him last week.

Ms Leadsom said Boris was looking to go to Brussels over the summer to see what can be done ahead of the new October 31 deadline.

Mr Johnson has said he will take us out by then – with or without a deal.

And the former Commons leader said Boris was also a proven election winner and would do well for the Tories in an upcoming general election contest.

She was booted out of the face last week after failing to get the 17 MPs needed to get her through to the next round.

Mark Harper and Esther McVey were also chucked out as well, but Boris soared ahead with 114 votes.

Later today MPs will vote again in the second round, whittling down the numbers until two are left.

The pair will then face off against each other for the votes of the Tory membership.

What happens next in the Tory leadership race?

June 18: Second ballot of MPs, open 3pm-5pm; any candidate with fewer than 33 votes eliminated – all remaining candidates invited to take part in live debate on BBC One, starting at 8pm

June 19: Third ballot, open 3pm-5pm; candidate with fewest votes eliminated

June 20: Fourth ballot (if needed), open 10am-12pm; candidate with fewest votes eliminated – any further ballots needed will also take place on this day

June 22: Final two candidates take part in first members' hustings, set to take place in Birmingham

July 8: Tory bosses send out postal votes to all party activists

July 22: Result announced this week – new Prime Minister takes over in time for Commons recess

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