PR advisers for Phillip Lee, who quit his ministerial post over Brexit, are promoting him with this picture

Phillip Lee, the minister who resigned last week over Brexit, has hired a PR firm to promote his chances of becoming Tory leader.

Lee, the former minister for youth justice, hired Ilana Fox, who describes her company, Intrepid Fox, as “the best marketing consultants in Brighton”.

When he quit on Tuesday, complaining that the government is botching Brexit, Fox went into action, breathlessly tweeting: “Beyond proud to be part of Dr Phillip Lee’s team this morning. What a speech, what a stand, what a resignation.”

She then promoted a picture of campaigners outside parliament, sporting posters emblazoned with Lee’s face and the slogan “Great British hero”, which had been created suspiciously quickly.

The Sunday Times has ascertained that Lee began conversations about how they could