Mark Francois bets on himself to be Tory leader
Mark Francois. Photograph: Kirsty O'Connor/PA. - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
Brexiteer Mark Francois has staked £10 on his chances of becoming the next leader of the Conservative party.
Theresa May has so far survived several attempts to oust her, including on April 24 when a vote of no confidence in the 1922 committee went her way nine to two votes.
Yet her popularity with both MPs and party members is at an all-time low and she has promised to vacate No.10 if her Brexit Withdrawal Bill goes through.
READ MORE: Theresa May most unpopular cabinet minister ever (and that includes Chris Grayling)
Francois, who is vice-chair of the ultra-Brexiteer European Research Group (ERG), predicts that she will be out by summer.
When asked if he would stand for Conservative Party leader himself, Francois said: 'I think that's unlikely.
You may also want to watch:
'Lightheartedly I put £10 on myself at William Hill last weekend, really as a bet with a friend of mine, and I got the stunning odds of 200/1.
'It's not impossible there will be an ERG candidate but that's unlikely to be me.'
Most Read
- 1 Nigel Farage loses nearly 50,000 followers after Twitter suspends QAnon accounts
- 2 Michel Barnier tells UK to be 'very careful' in Brexit diplomatic status row
- 3 Fifteen ways to fix Britain
- 4 This chumocracy is costing our country
- 5 Holyrood in talks with EU to extend Erasmus scheme to Scottish students
- 6 Susanna Reid takes on Priti Patel over government's gaslighting of public on coronavirus
- 7 Independent SAGE adviser gives scathing assessment of Priti Patel's £800 Covid fines
- 8 Bob Geldof takes swipe at No 10 saying 'lying is second nature' to them
- 9 An actor whose politics were a touchy subject
- 10 Brexiteer says he'd never have voted for Brexit 'if we knew we'd lose our jobs'
Telegraph columnist Charlotte Gill has more faith in him than the bookies, having recently tipped him as the next leader in an opinion piece lauding his 'brash' style and ability to hold staring contests with Will Self.
READ MORE: Telegraph columnist backs Mark Francois as next Tory leaderFrancois said that he had no plans to defect to the Brexit Party, saying he was 'a Tory first and last'.
He has previously challenged Keir Starmer to a £50 bet over the Brexit date.
William Hill currently lists odds for next Conservative party leader for Boris Johnson at 10/3, Dominic Raab at 6/1, Andrea Leadsom at 20/1, and Chris Grayling at 250/1.
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
