Boris Johnson may be the only Conservative Party leadership candidate to be put to the party's membership in the ongoing leadership election under a secret plan hatched by senior ministers to avoid damaging internal fighting. The senior ministers, who are not linked to the six remaining contenders for the Tory crown, are pondering only putting Mr Johnson's name forward to the party's 160,000 members in a 'confirmatory' vote. The plan was reported to have been thought of in the whip's office because of concerns that a six-week battle of candidates criticising each other will leave whoever wins weakened, providing political ammunition for Jeremy Corbyn. Boris Johnson may be the only Conservative Party leadership candidate to be put to the party's membership in the ongoing leadership election under a secret plan hatched by senior ministers to avoid damaging internal fighting Under the proposal, remaining candidates would bow out of the contest to allow Mr members to be asked if they wanted Johnson to be leader. The move, which was reported by the Daily Telegraph, would be highly controversial within the party following criticism of the 2016 'coronation' of Theresa May. She became Tory leader and prime minister without giving the members a chance to vote, after Andrea Leadsom withdrew from the 2016 contest. Mr Johnson is the overwhelming favourite to become Tory leader and prime minister - he received the backing of 114 MPs in the first round of voting on Thursday. Trailing far behind was Jeremy Hunt on 43, Michael Gove on 37, Dominic Raab on 27, Sajid Javid on 23 and Rory Stewart scraping through on 19. Following the news of the ministers' plan, International Development Secretary Rory Stewart - who is one of the remaining candidates - criticised it on Twitter. He said: 'Please write to your MP if you think this is not a good idea and please RT if you think anyone else might think this is not a good idea....' Following the news of the ministers' plan, International Development Secretary Rory Stewart - who is one of the remaining candidates - criticised it on Twitter Mr Stewart said: 'Please write to your MP if you think this is not a good idea and please RT if you think anyone else might think this is not a good idea....' And Mr Johnson, who has previously been fiercely criticised by Mr Stewart, faced a further barrage from fellow Brexiteers Dominic Raab. Mr Raab said in an interview with The Telegraph that he, being a grammar school boy and the son of a refugee, would be in a better position to win a general election than someone who is 'easily caricatured as being from the privileged elite'. Mr Johnson attended prestigious private school Eton with former prime minister David Cameron and the pair went on to study at Oxford together. Mr Raab also attacked his plan for a tax cut for people earning over £50,000 - contrasting it with his own proposal to help those on low income. The former Brexit secretary poured scorn on Mr Johnson's reluctance to appear in the television debates, questioning whether he had the 'mettle' to be prime minister. Mr Johnson made it clear that he will not be taking part in the first TV debate on Channel 4 on Sunday but did agree to appear in the second debate, on the BBC, on Tuesday. The biggest hurdle to the 'coronation' proposal succeeding is convincing Conservative Party chairman Brandon Lewis to back it. He is insistent that the candidates need to be grilled by members during 16 events in every region of the UK across four weeks, starting in Birmingham on Saturday, June 22. But the ministers behind the plan hope the proposal for a 'confirmatory ballot' will lessen Mr Lewis's concerns. Yesterday, Mr Johnson hinted he would be happy with only his name going forward to members as he said: 'The public have had quite a lot of 'blue on blue' action frankly over the last three years. We don't necessarily need a lot more of that.' However, senior Tory MPs Dame Cheryl Gillan and Charles Walker, returning officers for the membership ballot, made it clear that all candidates are expected to take part in the whole process. Fellow candidate and Brexiteer Dominic Raab also criticised Mr Johnson's refusal to appear in a debate among contenders on Channel 4, hinting that he too wants to see through the contest to its conclusion Mr Walker warned earlier this month that the party would not accept a 'coronation' of Mr Johnson. He said: 'The expectation is that if they are in the final two, they will put themselves through the membership hustings. 'We've had a conversation with those who have indicated they are going to put their papers in. 'There is a great recognition across the parliamentary party that this does need to go to the membership this time. 'Potential candidates are fully aware of that and hopefully relishing the prospect.' Mr Walker said all existing candidates had indicated they would not pull out. A source close to Mr Johnson told The Telegraph that he was 'happy' to take part in the whole contest, including hustings with rival candidates. Postal ballots for members are only being sent out on 8-9 July, which means the result cannot easily be moved forward from the week of July 22. Matt Hancock - who gained just 20 supporters in the first ballot - dropped out of the race yesterday, and those who backed him are said to be shifting their support to Environment Secretary Michael Gove. Mr Hancock had said on Twitter: 'I ran as the candidate of the future, but the Party is understandably looking for a candidate for the unique circumstances we face right now.' All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility