Senior Brexiteers are touting Nicky Morgan the pro-EU former education secretary as a potential successor to Theresa May.

Several influential pro-Leave MPs have privately suggested that Mrs Morgan could be well-placed to stand as a "unity" candidate who could take over the Brexit negotiations and leadership of the Conservatives.

The remarks follow her role in drawing up the so-called Malthouse Compromise for Brexit, along with a coalition of staunch Brexiteers and senior MPs who campaigned to remain in the EU.

Mrs Morgan was a strong support of the Remain campaign, but has warned: "The abiding mood in the country is ‘get on with it’ and patience on all sides is running out."

Mrs Morgan, a longstanding ally of Michael Gove, the Brexiteer Environment Secretary, becomes the latest of the 2010 intake of MPs to be touted as a leadership contender, along with Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, Dominic Raab the former Brexit Secretary, Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the Commons and Liz Truss, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

One senior Brexiteer who now believes Mrs Morgan could be a suitable leader said: "She is highly impressive and has shown she can bridge divides."