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Theresa May has been plunged into crisis over Brexit after Tory critics launched a formal bid to oust her.

Potential candidates for her job have begun setting out their stalls even before today's no confidence vote was triggered.

The final nail was driven in after she was forced to pull a Commons vote on her Brexit deal.

That prompted some remarkably personal pitches by leading Tories who could hope for her job.

If she loses the vote - which she could well survive - candidates will put themselves forward formally.

(Image: Dan Kitwood)

Tory MPs whittle them down one at a time to just two people, in votes each Tuesday and Thursday.

Then the final two will go head to head in a vote by the Tories' 100,000-or-so members.

Here are the Tory big beasts in the frame - and how they rate with William Hill.

Boris Johnson 4/1 favourite

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The former Foreign Secretary appeared on the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday with a smart new hair cut and refused to rule out challenging the PM.

Mr Johnson, who reportedly decided to back Leave on a whim, has become the darling of the Brexiteers.

The former London Mayor backs what he calls a “managed no deal”.

Asked to give an “absolute, categorical promise” that he would not stand against the PM, Mr Johnson said: “I will give you an absolute, categorical promise that I will continue to advocate what I think is the most sensible plan.”

Rees-Mogg preparing to go out round the country and campaign for Boris.

Dominic Raab 5/1

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Don’t be embarrassed if the name leaves you scratching your head.

Mr Raab was Brexit Secretary for about five minutes but quit over the Prime Minister’s deal.

He is very much on the right of the Tory party, called for us to leave the EU years before the referendum.

He is understood to have offended Theresa May with a 2011 online article in which he attacked the “equality bandwagon” and said that men were getting “a raw deal” which may have slowed his progress up the ministerial ladder.

He is known to order the same lunch every day from sandwich shop Pret a manger. His preferred combo of the chicken Caesar and bacon baguette, SuperFruit pot and Vitamin Volcano smoothie quickly became known as the Raab special.

The former Brexit Secretary said there were moments the UK could have “pressed harder” on the backstop.

Asked about the leadership on Sunday, he said: “I’ve always said I wouldn’t rule it out” but “it would be very self-indulgent to be engaging in all that speculation when we’ve got such a big issue up for decision on Tuesday”.

Sajid Javid 11/2

(Image: Dan Kitwood)

The Home Secretary is understood to have told Cabinet colleagues he is gearing up for a bid.

It’s widely expected the next Tory leader will be a Brexiteer mean Mr Javid, who backed Reman but now supports Leave, would have a real fight on his hands to win round Tory members.

He took over at the Home Office after Amber Rudd was forced to quit over the Windrush scandal and has since been seen as a safe pair of hands.

Mr Javid, the son of Pakistani bus driver, would be the first non-white Prime Minister.

Michael Gove 13/2

(Image: Getty Images)

Boris Johnson’s partner in crime on the Leave campaign displayed a ruthless streak when he shafted his friend during the last leadership campaign.

The Environment Secretary has managed to take one of the government’s less exciting briefs and made a name for himself after banning plastic straws and increasing the price of plastic bags.

Mr Gove said on Monday morning it was “extremely unlikely” that he would stand as a future Conservative Party leader which is definitely not ruling out a bid.

Jeremy Hunt 7/1

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Mr Hunt is seen as a safe pair of hands after showing he could weather controversy as the longest serving Health Secretary in the history of the NHS.

As Foreign Secretary he has had success in helping free British academic Matthew Hedges from prison in the United Arab Emirates.

But Mr Hunt, who campaigned for Remain but accepted the result of the referendum, may have a hard job trying to win over hardcore Brexiteers in the party.

(Image: Getty)

The Tory Brexiteer has been one of Theresa May's leading critics.

He put in a vote of no confidence saying her Brexit deal would trap the UK in "vassalage", powerless under EU rules.

He's insisted he's not standing for leadership in the past and backed people like Boris Johnson.

But what's a political promise, eh?

Penny Mordaunt 12/1

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The Royal Navy reservist who is currently the International Development Secretary would appeal to right-wingers with her plans to cut back on sending aid to wealthier countries.

Ms Mordaunt took part in a reality TV show splash and showed she had a sense of humour after using the word “cock” six times in a parliamentary debate as a forfeit issued during a dinner in the officers’ mess.

The Brexit-supporting minister has been clear that she does not back the Prime Minister’s deal but has stayed loyal to Theresa May.

She criticised attempts by Jacob Rees-Mogg and other Tory backbenchers to unseat the Prime Minister, saying: “That was not helpful.”

David Davis 14/1

Former Brexit Secretary David Davis resigned from the Cabinet over the Brexit deal back before it was cool.

In the week of the no confidence vote he gave a very heartfelt speech that was interpreted as a leadership pitch.

Amber Rudd 16/1

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Amber Rudd has gone from one tricky department to another. She was forced to quit as Home Secretary during the Windrush scandal.

But after eurosceptic Esther McVey quit the government, remain-supporting Ms Rudd returned to government.

In an interview at the weekend she criticised male Brexiteers who “flounce out quite a lot” instead of trying to get things done.

She has also suggested a plan B for Brexit could see the UK in a Norway plus arrangement.

Ms Rudd, who is seen as a leading candidate from the moderate wing of the party, has said she hoped the Tories choose a “centrist” figure for its next leader.

David Lidington 16/1

(Image: FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

The PM's de facto deputy is fiercely loyal and shows no sign of wanting to run. But the odds are in his favour due to his reliability and seniority. He's a Remainer.

Esther McVey 20/1

(Image: Dan Kitwood)

The former Work and Pensions Secretary made a clear pitch to take the top job when quizzed.

She said she would give the prospect of standing as leader “serious concern” and suggested that Brexiteers should unite around a single candidate.

The ardent Brexiteer quit the cabinet earlier this month saying that the PM’s deal was a breach of trust with voters and that Mrs May should return to Brussels to get a better deal.

She wants an end to the Irish backstop and is convinced it is unnecessary. She said: “The EU says it doesn’t want it, we don’t want it so why is it there? Remove it.”

She became a hate figure for the left because of her role in bringing in the bedroom tax. Another ardent right-winger.

Andrea Leadsom 20/1

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The Brexiteer Leader of the Commons says she's loyal to the PM but makes no secret of her ambiitions.

She was Mrs May's leadership rival in 2016 before dropping out in a storm over comments she made about motherhood.

Geoffrey Cox 20/1

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

The attorney general seems a very, very unlikely pick but he enthralled the Tory grassroots with a Mufasa-voiced speech at the 2018 party conference.

Other bookies' odds

Matthew Hancock 25/1

Justine Greening 33/1

Tom Tugendhat 33/1

Gavin Williamson 40/1

Ruth Davidson 50/1

Priti Patel 50/1

Phillip Hammond 50/1

James Cleverly 50/1

Jo Johnson 50/1

Sarah Wollaston 66/1

Johnny Mercer 66/1

David Gauke 66/1

Kwasi Kwarteng 66/1

Steve Baker 66/1

Jesse Norman 66/1

Rory Stewart 66/1

Mark Harper 66/1

Odds from William Hill accurate as of December 12th.