Tom Tugendhat on the future leadership of the Conservatives | Times Radio

A ‘dark horse’ senior Tory MP today reveals he would run for the Tory leadership if Boris Johnson is deposed. Commons Foreign Affairs Committee chair Tom Tugendhat tells The Times he will look at mounting a campaign, as “it’s up to all of us to put ourselves forward”. “It’d be a huge privilege” to serve as Prime Minister, the former Army officer insisted. With Mr Johnson facing the imminent threat of a no confidence vote over the Partygate scandal, the intervention makes Mr Tugendhat the first leadership contender to openly declare his potential candidature. Speaking to Times Radio’s T&G programme, the 48 year-old MP for Tonbridge and Malling was asked if he would run if there was a contest soon. Mr Tugendhat said: “I think that it's up to all of us to put ourselves forward. And it's up to the electorate - in the first case, parliamentary colleagues, and in the second case, the party - to choose. “Of course you should offer yourself if you think you can do it. “You should talk to colleagues and see if you can get a group together. And if you can get a group together, you should go for it.” While insisting “there isn’t a vacancy at the moment”, he added: “I haven't been canvassing support. I don’t know if I'd ever be able to get it. “But, if you could, of course, you should have a go.” Mr Tugendhat said he prefers to be open about his ambition to lead the Conservatives unlike some rivals. He said: “It’s one of those questions that I know some of my colleagues are coy about and I don't understand why. I don't think you should be embarrassed to want to serve your country, I was very proud to serve my country. “Of course I want to have an influence that helps to shape the country for the best.” --- Times Radio brings you the latest breaking news, expert analysis and well-informed discussion on the biggest stories of the day, delivered with warmth, expertise and balance. Subscribe here:    / @presidenttrumpreport   We are the UK's newest digital news radio station, bringing together the peerless journalistic expertise of The Times and The Sunday Times with the world-class speech radio and podcasting experience of Wireless.