Brexit: Will there be a new Conservative leader by the October deadline?

Brexit explained: Under the rules of the Conservative Party, the PM cannot be formally forced from office until 12 December – but pressure on her to resign is mounting, says Ashley Cowburn

Will Theresa May give up the keys to No 10 early? (AFP)

Speaking at an event in Westminster, the international development secretary Penny Mordaunt said on Tuesday that some things "drive my campaign team mad".

In the same week, on live television, a junior minister said they would back Sajid Javid to "represent modern Britain" in a party leadership contest. In normal times, paid-up members of the government would usually avoid such questions, saying there is no vacancy in Downing Street.

And on Friday, chancellor Philip Hammond offered a frank assessment of the situation: "Let's be honest, we have already got people jockeying for position to succeed her, but that's just one of those things."