Boris Johnson is facing questions about whether he can win enough MPs to return to power after MPs said they wanted to weed out those who were not “serious candidates”.
Potential successors to Liz Truss have been given until 2pm on Monday to attract nominations from 100 Tory MPs. It is seen as an effort to dissuade Johnson from attempting an unlikely comeback six weeks after leaving office.
The Times has been told that Johnson is expected to stay and believes it is in the national interest. Several Tory MPs have publicly implored him to run, but others view the prospect with horror.
Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, which runs the leadership contest, said: “We have set a high threshold, but a threshold