Amber Rudd today warns Philip Hammond to support Boris Johnson or face Labour winning a general election by Christmas.

Writing in The Telegraph, the Work and Pensions Secretary, who backed Jeremy Hunt in the leadership contest, describes Mr Johnson as a "friend" and declares that he is "ready for Number 10". She urges MPs to now "come together again no matter who wins."

Ms Rudd's warning comes as Mr Johnson prepares to demonstrate his own credentials as a "unity" prime minister by retaining Michael Gove in the Cabinet despite a bitter history between the pair. The former foreign secretary is believed to have decided to promote Mr Gove if, as expected, he is announced as the winner of the contest on Tuesday morning. One option is to beef up Mr Gove's current role by handing him responsibility for government efforts to tackle climate change.

Meanwhile, he is expected to appoint Sajid Javid, the Remain-voting Home Secretary, as Chancellor. Mr Johnson is likely to wait to see the size of his expected victory over Mr Hunt before making a final decision on whether to move him from his role as Foreign Secretary after entering Downing Street on Wednesday.

Ms Rudd's call for a "healing process" comes after Mr Hammond pledged to do "everything in my power" to stop a future prime minister suspending Parliament in order to deliver a no-deal Brexit - a move that Mr Johnson has refused to rule out. The Chancellor even indicated that he could vote to bring the Government down. In an appearance on BBC One's Andrew Marr Show this morning he is expected to indicate whether he will quit his post if Mr Johnson is announced as the new Tory leader, rather than wait to be sacked.