FOUR contenders publicly declared their bids today to become the next Conservative Party leader on a no-deal Brexit platform.

Leadership hopefuls Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab, Andrea Leadsom and Esther McVey have said they would be prepared to quit with no deal on October 31 if necessary.

This comes after Prime Minister Theresa May announced on Friday that she will be stepping down on June 7 and that a new leader would take the helm by the end of July.

Former work and pensions secretary Ms McVey – who has championed the bedroom tax on social housing tenants –  said that the government must begin preparing for a no-deal Brexit.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove confirmed that he would be seeking the nomination for Tory Party leader as a “unity candidate.”

Mr Gove will yet again be running against his arch-rival former foreign secretary Mr Johnson.

In the 2016 leadership race, he quit as Mr Johnson’s campaign manager to launch his own bid to become PM – and the falling-out between the two helped destroy both their chances of the job.

Mr Johnson is the favourite to win the contest that will be decided by 120,000 Conservative Party members.

Former Brexit secretary Mr Raab declared that he would stand. 

Also today, former secretary of state Damian Green endorsed Health Secretary Matt Hancock – who confirmed his candidacy yesterday.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and International Development Secretary Rory Stewart have also confirmed their candidacies –taking the total number of confirmations to 10 so far.

The BBC’s Andrew Marr Show asked shadow attorney general Shami Chakrabarti whether Labour would put down an immediate vote of no confidence in any new Tory leader.

She replied that it would be a good time for a general election, saying: “I don’t think we can have a second unelected prime minister.

“It has not been working for this country, and we have got 14 million people in poverty in one of the wealthiest countries on earth.

“The people of this country are entitled to have an alternative vision for this country.”

Meanwhile, Chancellor Philip Hammond refused to rule out supporting a no-confidence motion in the government if the next Tory leader goes for a no-deal Brexit.