The Conservative chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee said it would be a huge privilege to run the UK and revealed he would mount a campaign in the event of a leadership race.
The Chancellor is said to be putting the finishing touches on a PR-led leadership campaign including a website inspired by his weekly No11 newsletter and marketing strategy.
Centrist Tory MPs are turning to former soldier Tom Tugendhat as their choice to take over from Boris Johnson, as the Conservative Party braces for a potential leadership contest.