Boris Johnson confirms bid for Tory leadership

Boris Johnson has said he will run for the Conservative Party leadership after Theresa May stands down.

Asked at a business event in Manchester if he would be a candidate, the former foreign secretary replied: "Of course I'm going to go for it."

Mrs May has said she will resign once MPs back her Brexit deal.

A decision on her exit timetable will now take place after the House of Commons votes on her Brexit bill early next month.

Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs, made the announcement following a meeting between the prime minister and his committee's executive on Thursday. He said it would bring "greater clarity" to Mrs May's intentions.

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He's only slightly less embarrassing than May but at least he has a sense of humour.