Boris Johnson has publicly thrown his hat into the ring for the Conservative leadership, saying he is determined to see Brexit become a reality.

Addressing insurance brokers at a conference in Manchester, he said: “I’m going to go for it. Of course I’m going to go for it.

“I don’t think that is any particular secret to anybody. But you know, there is no vacancy at present.”

The former foreign secretary had initially made light of a question on whether he intended to make a bid to replace Theresa May as prime minister.

“We’ve run out of time,” he joked.

However, he then added: “But I’ll answer your question nonetheless. There’s no vacancy. On the other hand, what I will say is that there has been a real lack of grip and dynamism in the way we’ve approached these talks.

“We’ve failed over the past three years to put forward a convincing narrative about how we exploit the opportunities of Brexit.

“All I can say, as tactfully and usefully as I can, is that I have a boundless appetite to try to get it right, and to help the country to get on the right path.”

Earlier Johnson said he had predicted the rapid rise of the Brexit party – or a party of similar rightwing leanings – 18 months ago.

“I said if we continued in this supine way there would rise again, like a great puff ball, a rightwing party. The only way to address it is for us to get Brexit done, but also to get it done in such a way that we actually deliver on the mandate of the British people.

“If we can’t do that there really will continue to be that threat from the Brexit party and others. People will just say that democracy is being ignored, and that one way or another the ruling elite are conspiring collectively, whether overtly or not, to subvert it.”

On the prospect of a second vote on Brexit he said: “People would feel really outraged that they’re being frogmarched to the polls again by the establishment. I think they’re wrong. They’re barking up the wrong tree, and it would be giving encouragement to the Scottish Nationalists who also want a second referendum.”

“They had a discussion, they had a long, careful think about it. It’s contemptuous of people’s opinions to say they were incapable of making up their minds.”

Quick Guide Tory tribes Show The ERG hardcore The most resistant segment of the European Research Group of Eurosceptic Tory MPs comprises 28 pro-Brexit backbenchers who have refused to be wooed by Theresa May and opposed her third attempt to pass her Brexit deal. Steve Baker, Andrew Bridgen and Mark Francois are the most vocal members. Jacob Rees-Mogg remains close to the group despite backing May’s deal. Another 100 MPs have been associated with the ERG, including the potential Tory leadership candidates Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Andrea Leadsom. Blue-collar Conservatives Esther McVey, a Brexiter who reluctantly voted for Theresa May’s deal, is the latest Tory to breathe life into the idea of blue-collar conservatism, previously championed by Robert Halfon, the chair of the education select committee. McVey launched her version on 20 May at an event widely seen as the unofficial start of her leadership bid. She and fellow MPs including Eddie Hughes, Ben Bradley and Scott Mann plan to tour UK pubs to spread their message. McVey’s supporters claim to have up to 40 MPs signed up to the group; other Brexiters claim the figure is less than 20. One Nation Group Amber Rudd has spearheaded this pro-remain, anti-no-deal group of MPs, which includes the international development secretary, Rory Stewart, and the former cabinet ministers Nicky Morgan and Damian Green. The group claims to have more than 60 MPs onboard and plans to stand against “narrow nationalism” and division and in favour of internationalism, environmental policies and protecting consumers from corporations and an “over-mighty state”.



Scottish Tories Led by the hugely popular Ruth Davidson, the leader of the Scottish Tories in Holyrood, and the Scottish secretary, David Mundell, this group’s overtly remain tendencies put them at odds with the likes of the ERG. Among the 13 Scottish Tory MPs and 31 MSPs there is controversy over Boris Johnson, who is a highly divisive figure in Scotland.

Modernists A loose term nowadays, since the former Cameroons are largely nowhere to be seen. Those flying the flag for a more socially progressive, relatable kind of conservatism include the former education secretary Justine Greening and the health secretary, Matt Hancock, who even set up his own app in an attempt to keep up with the digital age. Both Greening and Hancock want to move on from Brexit so that other issues can be dealt with, but they are split on what that should look like. Greening has promoted a second referendum, while Hancock is urging all Brexiters to get behind May’s deal.



One of Johnson’s likely closest rivals also gave a speech on Thursday. While Sajid Javid, the home secretary, has yet to officially announce he will stand, he is widely expected to, using his address to argue that small businesses are treated unfairly by government.

Introducing a report by the Centre for Policy Studies – set up by Margaret Thatcher – on a simplified tax scheme for small firms, Javid reminisced about the women’s clothing store in Bristol run by his father, above which the family lived.

“I remember with my dad, his business had its ups and downs,” he told the audience in Westminster. “I could see how the family mood would change sometimes when a bill arrived and you wonder: are you going to have the business over the next few week, the next few months, to actually meet that bill. Could you be in trouble?”

Javid was critical at the lack of what he called a level playing field over tax for small and big businesses, and was particularly scathing about large technology firms.

“Whilst the small businesses are paying their fair share of tax they see these tech businesses paying what I would say is a piddling share of tax, if anything at all. That is not fair, it’s not right, and it’s not acceptable.”