There's a 'queue of people' behind David Cameron wanting to be Tory leader, Boris Johnson says

The Mayor of London is one of the favourites to succeed the PM

Right-wingers are more likely to see themselves as morally superior (Getty)

There is a “queue of several people” behind David Cameron wanting to be leader of the Conservative party, Boris Johnson has said.

The Mayor of London told the Jewish Chronicle newspaper that he believed the Prime Minister was doing a good job but hinted his succession was of interest.

“David Cameron is doing a terrific job and there’s a queue of several people beyond him,” he told the paper in a wide-ranging interview.

The Mayor of London is one of several Conservative MPs tipped as a possible successor to Mr Cameron when he steps down at the next general election.

Chancellor George Osborne, Home Secretary Theresa May and the Business Secretary Sajid Javid are all other possible contenders.

The Mayor of London was for a long time seen as Mr Cameron’s natural successor, until pundits and Conservative activists began to rate Mr Osborne as a result of perceived political successes in his budgets.

Mr Osborne has taken a political hit in recent months over his policy of cutting tax credits for people on low incomes in work, however – potentially leaving the race wide open again.

The most recent survey of Tory activists by the ConservativeHome website showed Mr Osborne still the narrow favourite among 23 per cent of Tory activists – down nine on the previous month before the tax credit debacle began.

Mr Johnson is closely behind on 21 per cent, up seven per cent on the previous month.

Ms May is on 16 per cent and Mr Javid is on 17 per cent, while former defence secretary Liam Fox is on 12 per cent.