Theresa May's de facto deputy in public snub to Boris Johnson amid unrest over her leadership

A key ally of Theresa May has snubbed Boris Johnson by failing to praise his record as Foreign Secretary as he called for an end to speculation over the Tory leadership.

First Secretary of State Damian Green pointed to Mr Johnson's eight-year stint as Mayor of London as evidence of his "huge talents" but neglected to mention Mr Johnson's record since he was appointed to the front bench.

It comes amid speculation over Mr Johnson’s leadership ambitions, after he used an eve-of-conference interview to lay down a raft of red lines on Brexit including an insistence that a transition phase must not last "a second more" than two years.

Splits emerged in the party at the weekend over Mr Johnson’s behaviour, with several senior figures speaking out against him including Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, ex-cabinet minister Nicky Morgan and pro-EU backbencher Anna Soubry.

Mr Green told ITV’s Peston on Sunday: “Boris clearly has huge talents and having him in the cabinet gives us those strengths.

“I think inevitably on big issues people will express views."

Asked if Mr Johnson was more dangerous out of the cabinet, the de facto deputy prime minister said: “No, it’s because Boris has got a good record as Mayor of London so it’s a good thing to have him in the cabinet.”

As Foreign Secretary, Mr Johnson has committed a string of gaffes including a recent episode where the British ambassador to Burma had to stop him from reciting a colonial poem in the country's most sacred temple.

Mr Green condemned speculation over the leadership of the party, which he said was “getting in the way” of progress and could be harming Brexit talks.

He said Ms May would “absolutely” lead the Tories into the next election, adding: “The whole leadership speculation is getting in the way of what is a job for the party but more importantly for the Government and for the country.

"It doesn't help our negotiating team in Brussels to have the constant speculation. So I think it will stop and, as I say, I think it has to stop.

"She has a big agenda that she wants to get through. Clearly the election didn't go well, but we now have four and a half years ahead of us in which we can not only get the Brexit deal that's best for the country but also implement that domestic agenda."

As the Conservative Party conference begins in Manchester, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid became the second cabinet minister to refuse to endorse the Prime Minister, after Chancellor Philip Hammond also failed to do so last week.

Ms May insisted her cabinet was "united" and ignored questions over where Mr Johnson was "unsackable" during an uncomfortable interview with BBC's Andrew Marr.