But the cabinet minister ruled himself out of the running to become prime minister after Mr Johnson’s resignation effectively triggered the Tory leadership race. Mr Smart also took issue with Sir John Major’s idea of bypassing the party’s activist vote to speed up the selection process, stressing the need to have a leader who is a good campaigner, which Theresa May, having been crowned the top position, he did not have . Latest politics: Declares first candidate for leadership His comments came amid growing pressure from senior Tories and political rivals for Johnson to step down from Downing Street immediately and not wait for a new leader to be elected. After days of turmoil in Westminster, some Tory MPs fear a summer of “chaos” if Mr Johnson stays in office while the leadership contest – which could last weeks or even months – takes place. Meanwhile, Labor deputy leader Angela Rayner told Sky News the opposition would seek a vote of confidence in Mr Johnson unless he resigned immediately. Mr Smart said: “I am focused and the Government is focused on the future, which is the right thing to do and the future is to ensure we have a new prime minister and a government team in time and in the meantime continue to serve. the British people. “He remains prime minister until a new prime minister is found. This is how our system works. “Everyone recognizes the motivation to do it properly and professionally but quickly so that we have some certainty and so the new prime minister, whoever he is, can build his team and make sure he continues to focus on what he really has importance and these are the people of this country”.
