Fareham MP Suella Fernandes backs Michael Gove to succeed David Cameron

The Fareham MP announced who she would be backing in the Conservative leadership race in a tweet this morning.

Her decision puts her at odds with her fellow south Hampshire MP’s who have supported frontrunner Theresa May’s bid or energy minister Andrea Leadsom.

Her tweet read: ‘Michael Gove is the best man to lead this country through EU negotiations - he has a positive plan for the future. #GoveForPM’

Miss Fernandes’ decision comes after the candidate she’d previously backed and the bookies’ favourite Boris Johnson, unexpectedly pulled out of the race yesterday.

Four Tory MPs; Flick Drummond, the MP for Portsmouth South, Gosport MP Caroline Dineage, Alan Mak, Havant’s MP and George Hollingbery, MP for the Meon Valley have all placed their backing behind Theresa May.

Penny Mordaunt, MP for Portsmouth North has thrown her backing behind Andrea Leadsom.

The race to be prime minister is now between Mr Gove, Mrs May, Ms Leadsom, Liam Fox and Stephen Crabb.