Tory grandees want to 'replace' Prime Minister Theresa May with first Michael Gove and then Ruth Davidson in the next three years.

It is understood as many as 30 MPs are trying to gather support for the 'plot' to force out Mrs May and install the Environment Secretary as a caretaker leader.

He would then step down in 2021 in favour of Ms Davidson in a plan called the 'Gove-Davidson successon'.

Ms Davidson is already aiming to oust SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister in the Scottish Parliament in the next Holyrood elections in 2021.

And the politician, who announced she was pregnant last month, has previously hinted she would run for a Westminster seat if she fails in that bid.

Tory grandees are 'plotting to replace Theresa May (left) with Michael Gove (right) after Brexit is delivered in 2019

According to The Sun, frustrated senior Tories want to replace Mrs May when Brexit is delivered over the difficulties in securing the divorce from the EU.

A former cabinet minister told the paper Ms Davidson is seen as the 'messiah' and the 'answer to the party's problems', with Mr Gove able to 'fill the gap' during the Brexit transition period.

The source said: 'Michael wants to be the leader, but he also accepts he can't fight a general election.

'He knows he's toxic to too many voters after his education reforms and running the Leave campaign.'

Another senior Tory said: 'The party needs to find the right leader to follow Theresa, and someone who can win an election. The problem is they're not necessarily the same person.'

Should the plan come to fruition it would mean four Conservative leaders in just seven years and two who would not have faced an election.

It is also understood the plan would be opposed by rivals including Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt who would likely launch their own leadership campaigns.

Earlier this week Ms Davidson and Mr Gove appeared together to support the launch of new Tory think tank Onward.

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson would then become leader in 2021 as part of the Tory 'succession plan'

Speaking at the launch, the Scottish Tory leader risked angering Mrs May earlier this week by branding the Tories 'dour and joyless'.

She said: 'Sometimes as Tories we just look a bit dour.

'We look a bit joyless, a bit authoritarian sometimes. We don't get to win if we start hectoring the people we need to vote for us.'

It came ahead of Ms Davidson attending a Cabinet meeting in Downing Street.

Mrs May has often faced similar criticisms of her leadership, previously being called 'Maybot' during last year's election campaign in which the Tory party lost their majority.

And Ms Davidson's success north of the border has been credited with helping the Tories cling on to power.

The dozen new MPs in Scottish constituencies was essential for Mrs May to hold on after a surge in support for Labour.

Ms Davidson's humour and lively style has won her legions of fans, and put Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on the back foot.

The 39-year-old - often tipped as a possible successor to Theresa May - announced last month that she partner Jen Wilson will be welcoming their baby in the autumn after undergoing IVF.

She posted a photo on Twitter of the couple beaming alongside their cocker spaniel, Wilson, with the message: 'Our little family of three is becoming four...'