‘Of course I’m going for it’: Boris Johnson says he WILL stand for Tory leader as May faces demands to quit now to save the party from Brexit disaster

• Boris Johnson has confirmed he will join battle for the Conservative leadership 
• Theresa May is under intense pressure to give a firm date for her departure 
• Mr Johnson told business conference in Manchester that he is ‘going for it’ 

Boris Johnson today confirmed he will join the battle to be the next Tory leader – as Theresa May faces being ousted potentially within weeks.

The former foreign secretary confirmed he was ‘going for it’ as he was grilled during an appearance at a business conference in Manchester.

Mr Johnson has been effectively running a shadow campaign for months, after resigning from the government in protest at Theresa May’s Chequers plan for Brexit.

But until now he has not publicly confirmed his intentions. 

Speaking at the insurance brokers’ conference this afternoon, Mr Johnson said: ‘Of course I’m going to go for it.’

Speaking at the insurance brokers’ conference this afternoon, Boris Johnson (left) said: ‘Of course I’m going to go for it.’

Sources tried to play down the words by insisting Mr Johnson was only saying he will stand if there is a vacancy – with Mrs May yet to announce her formal departure date.

The BBC’s Huw Edwards, who was hosting the conference, revealed his remarks on Twitter. 

The PM is under intense pressure to say when she will stand down amid Tory fury over her attempts to get a Brexit deal through. 

Mr Johnson is one of the front runners among a crowded field, with Home Secretary Sajid Javid, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, and ex-Brexit secretary Dominic Raab also gearing up their campaigns.  

Theresa May (pictured arriving at Parliament today) is under intense pressure to say when she will stand down amid Tory fury over her attempts to get a Brexit deal through

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