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Michael Gove remains the bookies’ favourite to succeed Theresa May as Conservative Party leader.

But he faces competition from fellow Cabinet ministers, not to mention his erstwhile friend and later rival Boris Johnson.

After Mrs May promised her MPs she would step down if her Brexit deal goes through, the Standard spoke to Tim Bale, a politics professor at London’s Queen Mary University, for his analysis of the top contenders to replace her.

Starting with Mr Gove, Prof Bale listed the key strengths and weaknesses of the 10 MPs given the best odds by William Hill as of Thursday.

Michael Gove (5/2)

Strengths: “Great parliamentary performer. Pretty good in the media. Has performed well as a minister.”

Weaknesses: “Stabbed Boris in the front during the last leadership contest. So there’s a question about his reliability. And he’s not particularly popular with the public because of his time as education secretary.”

Boris Johnson (5/1)

Strengths: “Celebrity. Some charisma.”

Weaknesses: “Very poor performer as foreign secretary. Very poor parliamentary performer. He’s not very good at answering questions or making speeches. If you want a comedy panel show, then great. But defending the government line? He’s not your man.”

Jeremy Hunt (7/1)

Strengths: “Generally seen as a safe pair of hands. Experienced. Reasonable media performer.”

Weaknesses: “Uninspiring.”

David Lidington (7/1)

Strengths: “Experienced. Collegiality. Good media and parliamentary performer.”

Weaknesses: “A Remainer.”

Dominic Raab (8/1)

Strengths: “Ambitious. A Leaver.”

Weaknesses: “Relatively inexperienced. Failed as Brexit secretary.”

Sajid Javid (9/1)

Strengths: “Backstory. Competent minister. Understanding of business.”

Weaknesses: “Not a traditional Conservative."

Matt Hancock (10/1)

Strengths: “Good minister. Good parliamentary and media performer.”

Weaknesses: “Heavily associated with David Cameron [who called the 2016 referendum].”

Jacob Rees-Mogg (20/1)

Strengths: “Celebrity – same as Boris. Media presence. Leaver.

Weaknesses: “Old-fashioned. Seen by many as simply too posh for the job in the 21st century.”

Andrea Leadsom (20/1)

Strengths: “Leaver. Understanding of the parliamentary process. Business background.”

Weaknesses: “Performed very poorly in the last leadership contest.”

Amber Rudd (20/1)

Strengths: “Good media and parliamentary performer. Had performed well as a minister, Windrush notwithstanding, though that wasn’t really her fault.”

Weaknesses: “Remainer. Marginal seat, but that can be changed.”

And who would Prof Bale put his money on?

"If Johnson can get through the parliamentary party, the membership would pick him.

"If he doesn't get through, I guess my money would be on Hunt or Javid."