A longlist of MPs will then be drawn up early next week, with only those who have secured the support of at least eight of their colleagues making the final cut.
Tory MPs will then be asked to vote in three consecutive rounds to whittle the candidates down to a final two. Candidates must win the support of at least five percent of the parliamentary party, or 18 MPs, to pass the first stage and 10 percent, which equates to 36 MPs, to pass the second stage.
“The general feeling is that the campaign should be quick”
The senior MP added: “If there were mass battles, with everyone given 15 minutes to make their pitch and then two votes a day, then we could be down to the bottom two by the end of next week.
“I think the general feeling is that the campaign needs to be quick.”
In May 2019, Mrs May announced she would resign on 7 June and nominations opened three days later when 10 candidates were selected.
The first MP vote took place on June 13, with comprehensive ballots taking place on June 18, 19 and 20 before Mr Johnson and Jeremy Hunt were elected as the final two.
But it wasn’t until July 23 that Mr Johnson was announced as the winner after more than a month of search engines and campaigning across the UK.
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