NEW BATTLE TO SAVE BREXIT!

Rees-Mogg fears ‘those who betrayed Boris will now seek to neuter Brexit’

- David Williamson and Jonathan Walker

DECADES of struggle to free the United Kingdom from the grip of Brussels could all be in vain if the Conservatives fail to elect a Brexit champion as their leader, the party was warned yesterday.

Brexit opportunities minister Jacob Rees-Mogg compared the ousting of Boris Johnson to the slaying of Julius Caesar and predicted that “those who betrayed Boris will now seek to neuter Brexit”.

His warning came as leadership contenders pledged to pursue Britain’s Brexit freedoms, with MPs due to vote in the first rounds of the contest

this week. Former Health Secretary Sajid Javid will today make his case to be the next prime minister, with Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi formally launching his campaign tomorrow.

And Transport Secretary Grant Shapps yesterday threw his hat into the ring, saying his goal was to address the cost-of-living crisis and make Britain’s economy the biggest in Europe by 2050.

He also pledged to produce an emergency budget, cut personal tax for the most vulnerable and give state support to firms with high levels of energy con- sumption.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is also planning to run, reportedly with a pledge to reverse tax rises.

But Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has decided not to enter the contest.

Home Secretary Priti Patel is understood to be considering running, while former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is also confirmed to be in the race.

Meanwhile, foreign affairs committee chairman Tom Tugendhat has set out why he should have the top job, saying: “The reason I’m standing is simple. Trust in our politics and our party is collapsing. We need a clean start.”