Tory rivals are squabbling over who should take on Boris Johnson for the leadership today - with Health Secretary Matt Hancock on the verge of dropping out of the race.
The former foreign secretary trounced the field in the first round of the contest yesterday, romping home with 114 votes from MPs.
The massive haul - more than the next three candidates put together - means he is virtually guaranteed a spot in the final two, who will go to a ballot of party members.
But the other hopefuls are still wrestling over who should be Mr Johnson's opponent in the run-off. Mr Hancock, who trailed in sixth with 20 votes, is believed to be considering standing aside.
Some supporters of Home Secretary Sajid Javid, who came fifth, are also reportedly urging him to do a deal with Mr Johnson to become Chancellor.
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson trounced the field in the first round of the contest yesterday, romping home with 114 votes from MPs
However, one senior MP in Mr Javid's camp dismissed the idea - saying Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt taking on Mr Johnson would be a 'quasi University Challenge final'.
Mr Hunt was educated at Charterhouse and Magdalen colllege, Oxford, while Mr Johnson went to Eton and Balliol, Oxford.
Meanwhile, the trailing candidates have been ramping up pressure on Mr Johnson to take part in TV debates.
The front runner has so far taken just six questions from journalists in his highly stage-managed campaign, and has been refusing media requests for interviews.
Mr Johnson's opponents have ganged up by committing to appear on TV leadership debates on Channel 4 on Sunday and the BBC on Tuesday.
Mr Johnson's aides say he is 'in discussions' with broadcasters.
In a joint statement, Mr Hunt, Michael Gove, Dominic Raab, Mr Javid, Mr Hancock and Rory Stewart said the leadership contest was 'a critical moment' for both the UK and the Conservative party.
They said: 'The next Conservative Leader, and Prime Minister, will have the crucial task of uniting Britain behind a new vision - not only to deliver Brexit, but to define what comes next.
'This leadership contest provides an important opportunity to debate, to shape and to define the ideas which will underpin those competing visions.
'That is why we are committed to taking part in the Channel 4 televised debates this Sunday and the BBC programme next Tuesday.'
Those campaigning against Mr Johnson warned his strategy of avoiding media scrutiny could land the Tories with the same sort
