Politics explained: Will a crowded field of Tory leadership hopefuls force Theresa May to stand down?

Former cabinet minister Esther McVey has today become the latest Conservative MP to publicly declare her candidacy to succeed Theresa May as leader of the party – despite there being no formal contest currently in motion.

“I’ve always said quite clearly if I got enough support from colleagues then yes I would, and now people have come forward and I have got that support, so I will be going forward,” she said.

The MP for Tatton joins a crowded field, with a handful of cabinet members expected to announce their intention to compete for the keys to Downing Street in due course, as soon as the prime minister formally outlines a date for her departure.

Ms May has told MPs that she will resign the leadership of the party once the first phase of Brexit – passing the withdrawal agreement and exiting the EU formally – is delivered.

But she is now under pressure to set out a more specific timetable for departure, enabling a leadership race to take place in the summer months. This would allow her successor to take centre stage at the party’s annual conference in the autumn.

The prime minister is well aware that cabinet ministers are jockeying for her position – some of them have not exactly been subtle in their ambitions – and even before she announced her plan to step down once Brexit is delivered, hopefuls were plotting behind the scenes.

Asked whether Ms May was frustrated with those publicly declaring their leadership bids, a No 10 source said: “The PM has said on several occasions that this is not about her job, but about the national interest and delivering on the referendum result.”

“Her entire focus is on passing the withdrawal agreement and ensuring Britain leaves the EU,” they added.

It is apparent then that the prime minister is coming under intensifying pressure to outline her departure date, or leave Downing Street earlier.

However, this is not primarily down to individuals flouting their leadership qualities in the media.

More significantly, she will face the executive of the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs next week in the corridors of Westminster; and a date for her resignation, or at least a less vague indication of when she could give up the keys to No 10, is likely to be the subject at the top of the agenda paper.