Boris Johnson, who last week led Britain out of the EU, has quit the race to become the country’s next prime minister, after a day of bloodletting at Westminster that left home secretary Theresa May as the new frontrunner.

Mr Johnson planned to use the Brexit vote to propel him to Number 10, but his ambitions were dashed at 9.02am yesterday when fellow Brexit campaigner Michael Gove conducted a political assassination.

It was the latest twist in the bitter infighting that has riven both the ruling Conservative party and the Labour opposition since the shock referendum vote to leave the EU last week, which prompted the resignation of David Cameron as prime minister. Just hours before Mr Johnson was due to launch his campaign, Mr Gove declared: “I have come, reluctantly, to the conclusion that Boris cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead.”