Theresa May will launch her bid to be the next Prime Minster on Wednesday, backed by a number of key cabinet ministers.
The Home Secretary – who has overtaken Boris Johnson in the race to replace David Cameron, according to the bookies and a new poll – spent most of Tuesday drumming up support for her bid.
Steven Crabb, the Work and Pensions Secretary, wrote to MPs announcing his intention to run while former Defence Secretary Liam Fox, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, and Energy Minister and Brexiter Andrea Leadsom are also reportedly considering vying for the job.
Chancellor George Osborne has ruled himself out of the contest, saying it was clear he could not provide the unity the party needed.
An ally of Ms May said: “In these uncertain times we need someone with experience on the big stage and Theresa has that. She has been Home Secretary for six years which involves some tough negotiations at home and abroad. There are plenty of those to come.”
When she breaks cover, it is expected that her supporters, some of whom are in key UK Government positions, will come out to publicly support her bid.
Candidates were seen canvassing support in Westminster yesterday, with Mr Johnson marching around the Houses of Parliament to speak to MPs with dried mud on his trouser leg.
Inverness-born Mr Crabb’s intention to run on a joint ticket with Business Secretary Sajid Javid could have repercussions for the Scottish Conservatives.
Ruth Davidson, the party’s leader north of the border, has said she would “find it very hard to vote for anyone else” if he is on the ballot paper.
It is understood that she will not publicly back any candidate until the shortlist is whittled down to two by MPs.
And Mr Crabb is unlikely to gain the support of David Mundell, the Scottish Secretary who is also close to Ms Davidson. Both have a mutual loathing for Mr Johnson, though, and will want to prevent him from taking the top job.
According to the YouGov poll, Ms May is favoured by 31% of Conservative voters against 24% for Mr Johnson.
The duo had been urged by Cabinet minister Justine Greening to form a “united leadership” to help bring together a country left divided post Brexit vote.