"Many Photos" - Boris Johnson takes 'painful' decision to vote for May's deal today

Boris Johnson confirmed today he had taken the 'painful' decision to vote for Theresa May's Brexit deal as the rivals to replace her jostle for position.

The Vote Leave leader said he would back the deal to stop Brexit being halted altogether despite spending months condemning the package. 

Mr Johnson is one of a raft of Brexiteer contenders for the Tory leadership after Mrs May admitted on Wednesday night she would resign if the deal gets over the line. 

How the leading candidates split on the deal today will be keenly watched for signals of how the Tory race will play out. The hardline European Research Group led by Jacob Rees-Mogg is thought likely to back a single candidate. 

Former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab is expected to vote against the deal for a third time in a stark contrast with Mr Johnson. 

Other leading contenders on the backbenches include Esther McVey. A raft of candidates inside Government are under orders to vote for Mrs May's deal today.  

Boris Johnson confirmed today he had taken the 'painful' decision to vote for Theresa May's Brexit deal as the rivals to replace her jostle for position

As debate on the deal began again today the Vote Leave leader said he would back the deal to stop Brexit being halted altogether despite spending months condemning the package

As today's debate began Mr Johnson wrote on Twitter: 'I have been and remain intensely critical of the deal. But we have a choice to make now, and that means choosing between options that actually exist.

'I have come to the sad conclusion that neither this Government nor this Parliament is willing to leave with no deal.

'We therefore run the risk of being forced to accept an even worse version of Brexit or losing Brexit altogether.

'A bad deal that we have a chance to improve in the next stage of negotiations must be better than those alternatives.

'It is very painful to vote for this deal. But I hope we can now work together to remedy its defects, avoid the backstop trap and strive to deliver the Brexit people voted for.'

Overnight Brexiteer MPs backing Mr Raab accused his rival of 'flipping' at the last minute and showing 'poor judgment' after Mr Johnson announced he was backing the Prime Minister's deal.

One MP said: 'It's a massive cock up, isn't it? It doesn't show very good judgment, does it? Boris backs a deal he might not even get to vote on. 

Imagine being the standard bearer for the Eurosceptics then flipping at the last minute to back the deal. One up for Dom, one down for Boris.'

A raft of candidates inside Government such as Michael Gove (pictured arriving in Parliament today) are under orders to vote for Mrs May's deal today

Meanwhile, supporters of Michael Gove suggested he might have as many as 50 MPs signed up to back him.

One minister said the Environment Secretary was someone with 'impeccable Leave credentials' who had also 'bothered to reach out to Remainers'.

According to Paddy Power, Mr Gove is the favourite to be next Tory leader at 7/2, followed by Mr Johnson (4/1), Jeremy Hunt (8/1), Mr Raab (8/1), Sajid Javid (12/1) and Matt Hancock (18/1).

Last night Mr Johnson appeared to win the backing of Donald Trump. In a response to a question about the Tory leadership battle and Brexit, the President replied: 'I like Boris Johnson a lot. He's a friend of mine.'

Mr Johnson revealed his change of heart on the withdrawal agreement at a meeting of the European Research Group of MPs on Tuesday night, just minutes after Theresa May said she was prepared to step down as leader if her deal passed the Commons. 

He had previously described the deal as a 'suicide vest' but now fears Brexit may be lost altogether and doesn't want to be blamed if it is.

Former Brexit secretary Mr Raab is among a small group of 30 to 40 Tory Eurosceptics refusing to fall in line, and yesterday he endorsed a so-called 'managed' No Deal.

Mr Raab told Sky News that Mrs May should go back to Brussels and demand a 'legally-binding' exit from the backstop and if that didn't work she should discuss how to manage a No Deal Brexit.

Former Brexit secretary Mr Raab is among a small group of 30 to 40 Tory Eurosceptics refusing to fall in line

Speaking outside his home in Surrey, he said: 'I think this is a time for pragmatism and realism.

One thing I would like to see is us go back to the EU again, keep the arm of friendship open, explain that there is still time for an exchange of letters providing a legally-binding exit from the backstop. 

I know a lot of people will say, well, the EU just won't move; that's been treated as a fixture of these negotiations, rather than being tested.

'But if they still don't move, I think we should have sensible conversations over the two weeks we've got left over the suite of No Deal arrangements that can be made to mitigate any of the potential damage on either side, to European jobs and livelihoods, but also to UK jobs and livelihoods.'

An ally of Mr Johnson said: 'His position is the same. He is going to vote for the deal. If it doesn't go through he's not going to get the blame.'

Asked about Mr Raab's intervention, he said: 'Apart from the ERG I don't know who you're impressing.'

A report yesterday suggested Mr Johnson had told friends the deal was 'dead' despite his last-minute conversion. Sources close to Mr Johnson denied the claim. 

Supporters of Environment Secretary Michael Gove suggested he might have as many as 50 MPs signed up to back him

Meanwhile, other potential candidates were also gearing up their campaigns. Allies of Health Secretary Mr Hancock were yesterday calling MPs to sound out whether they might support him.

It was also claimed Home Secretary Mr Javid had floated the idea of a 'dream ticket' with him as Prime Minister and Mr Gove as Chancellor.

The idea, which was dismissed out of hand by Mr Javid's friends, would be used to shut Mr Johnson out of Downing Street, it was said.

A senior Tory source described the idea as a 'grown-up and sensible solution' that would bring 'stability' at the top of the party, adding: 'We know Michael Gove's limitations in terms of public appeal.

Sajid Javid has broad support around the country, the polling evidence proves that. And the fact that he has a back story that no one else in the party has.'

In a speech to business chiefs yesterday, Treasury chief secretary Liz Truss endorsed the idea of securing a Canada-style trade deal – based on the free trade agreement negotiated between the EU and Canada – in the second round of the negotiations.

Miss Truss, who backed Remain, told the British Chambers of Commerce conference: 'I'm a free trader, I believe that we need to open our economy to the rest of the world.'

It was also claimed Home Secretary Mr Javid (pictured in Downing Street) had floated the idea of a 'dream ticket' with him as Prime Minister and Mr Gove as Chancellor

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News Photo Boris Johnson takes 'painful' decision to vote for May's deal today
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