Tories should not be pushed into picking a Brexit campaigner to replace David Cameron, a pro-EU MP said as he questioned Boris Johnson’s credentials to be prime minister.
Alan Duncan said many activists liked the “excitement and notoriety” of the former London mayor who spearheaded the push to leave, but did not want a “permanent ride on the big dipper”.
He dismissed the prospects of George Osborne succeeding David Cameron in 10 Downing Street, conceding the Chancellor was “much weakened” by his part in the referendum campaign.
Mr Cameron says he wants to be gone by October to allow another leader to conduct the detailed negotiations over Britain’s exit from the bloc.
The Conservative backbench 1922 Committee meets on Monday to determine the timetable for the leadership election, which will see MPs whittle down candidates to two to put to the membership.
Mr Johnson starts as the clear favourite, with Home Secretary Theresa May considered a strong contender and others such as Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb also tipped to run.
Mr Duncan, a former minister, dismissed suggestions the next leader had to be a Brexiteer.
“I don’t think anything could be more stupid,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“If you just look through the lens of this referendum that is behind us, that will actually narrow the way in which we look at ourselves.
“What we need is unity, stability, credibility and competence. Someone has got to be good on domestic and foreign policy and be able to stand on the domestic stage with dignity and effectiveness.”
He said he would “probably not” back Mr Johnson and suggested the former London mayor’s popularity was shallow.
“Do not necessarily assume that he is the darling of the Conservative Party activists.
“A lot of them have loved the notoriety and the excitement. But actually, once you scratch the surface a little bit and ask the second question, a lot of them don’t want a permanent ride on the big dipper.”
He said MPs “must assert themselves and not be given a stitched-up option … as a slam dunk”.
“This is the sixth – possibly seventh, actually – leadership campaign in which I’ve been involved and often the poor damned infantry are just taken for granted.
“I think what has to happen here is that every single Conservative MP must appreciate that their view matters and that they have got to look at the long-term future of the country in all parts of the United Kingdom on a whole range of issues.”
Asked about Mr Osborne, who faced anger from MPs over a series of stark warnings about the economic impact of Brexit including a harsh emergency budget, Mr Duncan said: “He is much weakened, of course
“I feel very sorry for him personally. If I were to stick my neck out I think it’s going to be very difficult for him to stand on the back of this.
“I would have supported him in different circumstances had he done so.”
