Boris Johnson ‘has already won’ Tory leadership battle with poll finding 77% of activists have now voted – and 72% back him over Jeremy Hunt

• Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt have been fighting for keys to Downing Street
• ConHom poll finds 77 per cent of members have now cast their postal ballots
• Mr Johnson backed by 72 per cent – suggesting he already has the votes to win 

Boris Johnson has already won the Tory leadership contest, according to a poll today – with three quarters of activists now having cast their votes. 

A survey for the grassroots ConservativeHome website found the overwhelming majority have sent in their postal votes. 

Some 72 per cent also said they had either backed or planned to back Mr Johnson – suggesting he already has an unassailable lead with two weeks to go until the result it announced.

Jeremy Hunt has admitted he is the underdog in the contest to replace Theresa May, but vowed to fight to the end.

He mounted an all-out assault on Mr Johnson in a TV debate earlier this week as he desperate struggles to overhaul his advantage – mocking him for refusing to answer questions and questioning his ‘do or die’ pledge to force Brexit by the end of October.

In the ConHome survey, some 72 per cent also said they had either backed or planned to back Mr Johnson – suggesting he is on track for a landslide victory when the result is announced in two weeks’ time

However, the attacks do not seem to be making a significant dent in Mr Johnson’s popularity with members.

An ORB poll for the Telegraph today could give him another boost – as it suggests the Tories could regain 92 per cent of the voters they have lost to Nigel Farage if Brexit happens by the Halloween deadline. 

But the challenge faced by Mr Johnson was underlined last night when Chancellor Philip Hammond signalled he will be a ‘nightmare’ over no-deal Brexit.

Mr Hammond insisted he would use the Commons backbenches to ‘vigorously’ battle any attempt at withdrawing from the EU without a deal.

Asked if he would jump before he was pushed if Mr Johnson takes the Tory crown in two weeks’ time, Mr Hammond told ITV’s Peston: ‘My expectation is that I will not be serving in the next administration.

‘But, I want to say this because I read some stuff in the papers earlier this week about how I would be a nightmare on the backbenches.

‘I will continue to argue vigorously against a no-deal Brexit.

‘And I will certainly do everything I can to prevent a no-deal Brexit without parliamentary approval.’

The pointed comments came after Mr Johnson was put on notice to expect a legal battle with former prime minister Sir John Major if he tries to suspend Parliament in order to force through a no-deal Brexit.

Former Conservative leader Sir John said it would be ‘utterly and totally unacceptable’ for any British premier to shut down Parliament, and he would seek a judicial review if it happened.

Mr Johnson dismissed Sir John’s ‘very odd’ threat of being dragged through the courts, insisting that Parliament should accept its responsibility to deliver Brexit.

But he has refused to rule out proroguing Parliament to prevent MPs blocking a no-deal exit from the European Union on October 31.

Jeremy Hunt (pictured out running in London today) has admitted he is the underdog in the contest to replace Theresa May, but vowed to fight to the end

The Tory leadership campaign front runner said: ‘What we are going to do is deliver Brexit on October 31, which is what I think the people of this country want us to get on and do.

‘I think everybody is fed up with delay and I think the idea of now consecrating this decision to the judiciary is really very, very odd indeed.

‘What we want is for Parliament to take their responsibilities, get it done as they promised that they would.

‘They asked the British people whether they wanted to leave in 2016, the British people returned a very clear verdict, so let’s get it done.’

Mr Hammond said: ‘I think there is a group of members of Parliament who feel very, very strongly about this.

‘If anyone were foolish enough to try to prorogue Parliament then I’m sure there will be action in the courts.

‘We would have to challenge it.

‘The idea that elected members of Parliament would be locked out of their place of work because they might do their job is truly shocking.’

Asked if a no-deal Brexit would be similar to the financial crisis of 2008, the Chancellor said: ‘It could be.’

In order to prorogue Parliament, shutting it down until the next state opening, a prime minister would have to ask the Queen to formally allow it.

Although the Queen’s decision could not be challenged, Sir John said the advice of the prime minister could be.

The potential suspension of Parliament was one of the issues on which Mr Johnson and his rival Jeremy Hunt clashed in a televised showdown on Tuesday night.

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