Boris Johnson is the only candidate for the Tory leadership who has enough support from ordinary voters to ensure the Conservatives win the next general election, private polling shows.

Mr Johnson, who led the Leave campaign alongside Michael Gove, is the only senior Tory with the wider appeal necessary to ensure an election victory, data has shown.

The former Mayor of London also has the support of crucial Conservative donors who believe he is best-placed to build a strong party machine ahead of any election, sources close to the former mayor of London said.