Jacob Rees-Mogg ‘sounding out’ friends about running to replace Theresa May as maverick Tory privately lets slip ambition to be PM
But the eccentric backbencher has played down reports – saying if he threw his hat into the ring ‘my hat would be thrown back at me pretty quickly’
JACOB Rees-Mogg is reportedly “sounding out” his friends about whether he should run to replace Theresa May as Prime Minister.
The maverick Tory also privately lets slip his ambition to take the top job during a lunch, according to Anglo-US academic Ted Malloch.
Friends of the eccentric backbencher, who previously said he did not see himself as a "serious" candidate, say he is reportedly giving "careful consideration" to a possible tilt at the leadership.
The news comes days after the father of six was revealed as the second most popular choice to take over from Mr May in a poll of party members by the ConservativeHome website.
The findings reflect a belief among some Tories that the "young fogey" MP could be a right-wing antidote to the popularity of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
But the Old Etonian, who has sprung to fame in recent weeks due to his new following on social media, distanced himself from the idea.
In an interview with The Sunday Times: "I think if I threw my hat in the ring, my hat would be thrown back at me pretty quickly.”
And the 48-year-old has been resolute in his support for the PM since her disastrous election campaign, while others in the party have been pushing for her to step down.
However, the paper quoted a friend of the MP as saying: "Jacob is loyal to a fault and would never do anything to destabilise Theresa May.
"But should she stand aside ... he is starting to look at some of his more ambitious peers and wonder what they have got that he hasn't".
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And Professor Malloch, who is close to US president Donald Trump, told The Mail on Sunday: "I was at a lunch with Jacob very recently and he indicated he would like to be considered for the leadership when the time comes.
"He did not mean now, but at some point in the future."
In the Sunday Times he was asked if he was upset Mrs May laughed at the suggestion of him being in the cabinet, responding: "I'm a backbench MP. I'm supporting Theresa May.
“My ambition is to be re-elected in North East Somerset. It would be unrealistic of me to have further ambitions."
Asked if he had no ambitions for higher office he added: "The local party is part of who I am and what I am."
And Mr Rees-Mogg refused to be drawn on who should be the next party leader, saying: "There are so many people that would be capable of doing it and who it ends up being, as with Mrs May getting it, is a matter of luck as anything."
