ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

Tory leadership hopeful Boris Johnson has vowed to hold back the promised £39 billion from the European Union unless better exit terms are offered as he set out his vision for Number 10.

The leadership campaign front-runner claimed he can see off Nigel Farage and Jeremy Cobyn as he urged party members to make him their next prime minister.

He also said he would step up preparations to counter no-deal "disruption".

Meanwhile, leadership rival Michael Gove set out plans to replace VAT after Brexit with a "lower, simpler" sales tax.

And Sajid Javid's campaign received a boost with an endorsement from Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson.

In his first major interview of the campaign, Mr Johnson told the Sunday Times he could defeat the twin threat posed by the leaders of the Brexit Party and Labour - comparing them to the sea monsters from Greek mythology which troubled Odysseus.

"I truly believe only I can steer the country between the Scylla and Charybdis of Corbyn and Farage and on to calmer water.

"This can only be achieved by delivering Brexit as promised on October 31 and delivering a One Nation Tory agenda."

On Brexit, he said he would scrap the backstop - something the EU has so far refused to do - and would settle the Irish border issue only when Brussels is ready to agree to a future relationship.

The £39 billion settlement would only be paid when there is "greater clarity" about the way forward, he said.

"I always thought it was extraordinary that we should agree to write the entire cheque before having a final deal," he said. "In getting a good deal, money is a great solvent and a great lubricant."

The former foreign secretary received backing from prominent Brexiteer Steve Baker - who had been considering his own leadership bid.

He also picked up endorsements from Cabinet ministers James Brokenshire, Chris Grayling and Alun Cairns, and former international development secretary Priti Patel.

Former Tory leadership contender James Cleverly revealed on Sunday that he is backing Mr Johnson to be the next Prime Minister.

The Brexit minister said Mr Johnson can reach "voters that the Conservative Party would not normally expect to be on side".

Speaking to Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday after dropping out of the race to succeed Mrs May, he said he was supporting Mr Johnson's candidacy having worked with him while he was Mayor of London.

He said: "I've stood stood shoulder to shoulder with him in two election campaigns both in 2008 and 2012.

"I've seen him reach out to audiences and voters that the Conservative Party would not normally expect to be on side.

"I know he can run a successful executive operation because I was part of the team that did that for eight years, so that's why I'm supporting him for leader."

Meanwhile, writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Gove set out a "pro-business economic plan" to take on Mr Corbyn's "Marxist message".

Mr Gove said his plan would mean "reducing the regulations which hold business back", cutting taxes and "using the opportunity of life outside the EU to look to replace VAT with a lower, simpler sales tax".

Ms Davidson's decision to back Mr Javid came as he set out his own plan to tackle the Irish border issue - by spending hundreds of millions on a technological solution.

The support of Ms Davidson, a popular figure in the party who has revitalised the Tories in Scotland, was welcomed by Mr Javid.

"Ruth knows a winner when she sees one," he told the Mail on Sunday.

The Home Secretary also said there is a moral duty on the UK to pay for measures at the Irish border in an effort to secure a Brexit breakthrough.

"I think it's morally justified to pay for that because we both have signed the Good Friday Agreement, we are both absolutely committed to peace on the island of Ireland and - given that we voted to leave and that's what's changing the status quo on the island of Ireland - I think it's morally right that we say, 'look, we'll pay because we've caused this'."

Rory Stewart's camp, meanwhile, said he is the challenger best placed to take on Mr Johnson, pointing to polling by Opinium which puts him neck-and-neck with the former foreign secretary on the question of "would they make a good prime minister".

Mr Stewart said it is "very encouraging", but he cautioned there are "many steps still between here and Downing Street".

As Theresa May resigned as Tory leader on Friday, the starting gun was fired for the race to replace her.

The nomination process will take place on Monday, with candidates requiring eight MPs to back them in order to enter the race, with the first round of voting on Thursday.

Additional reporting by Press Association.