Mark Francois places £10 bet to become next Conservative leader

Mark Francois. Photograph: Kirsty O'Connor/PA. - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images

Brexiteer Mark Francois has staked £10 on his chances of becoming the next leader of the Conservative party.

Theresa May has so far survived several attempts to oust her, including on April 24 when a vote of no confidence in the 1922 committee went her way nine to two votes.

Yet her popularity with both MPs and party members is at an all-time low and she has promised to vacate No.10 if her Brexit Withdrawal Bill goes through.

Francois, who is vice-chair of the ultra-Brexiteer European Research Group (ERG), predicts that she will be out by summer.

When asked if he would stand for Conservative Party leader himself, Francois said: ‘I think that’s unlikely.

‘Lightheartedly I put £10 on myself at William Hill last weekend, really as a bet with a friend of mine, and I got the stunning odds of 200/1.

‘It’s not impossible there will be an ERG candidate but that’s unlikely to be me.’

Telegraph columnist Charlotte Gill has more faith in him than the bookies, having recently tipped him as the next leader in an opinion piece lauding his ‘brash’ style and ability to hold staring contests with Will Self.

READ MORE: Telegraph columnist backs Mark Francois as next Tory leaderFrancois said that he had no plans to defect to the Brexit Party, saying he was ‘a Tory first and last’.

He has previously challenged Keir Starmer to a £50 bet over the Brexit date.

William Hill currently lists odds for next Conservative party leader for Boris Johnson at 10/3, Dominic Raab at 6/1, Andrea Leadsom at 20/1, and Chris Grayling at 250/1.