DAVID Mundell has said that he’ll never vote for Boris Johnson in the Tory leadership race.
But the Secretary of State for Scotland also said he would be willing to serve in the Old Etonian’s cabinet.
Speaking to journalists at the opening of a brand-new UK Government hub in Edinburgh, Mundell said he supported Health Secretary Matt Hancock in yesterday’s ballot.
He said: “We’re a long way from the conclusion of this race.
“Obviously Mr Johnson is the front runner. I didn’t support him in today’s ballot and I won’t be supporting him in any future part of this process.
“But I think it would be complacent to assume that he is just going to win the exercise.
“I think it’s very important as we go through the television debates next week, as we go through the interaction with members, that all candidates are held to account, their positions challenged, and they make robust defences and set out further details of their policies.
“But one thing I’m sure about, although on a number of matters clearly I don’t agree with Mr Johnson – he is a very staunch Unionist, and he is committed to keeping our United Kingdom together.”
WATCH: David Mundell squirms when asked about old Boris Johnson quote
He later added: “I’m not ‘anybody but Boris’ in the sense of seeking to stop Mr Johnson in that sense, it’s just I have been clear in the past that I wouldn’t support him in a leadership election.
“I’ve met him face to face – we’ve had a very cordial discussion. I think it’s very important to have lines of communication.”
Mundell also denied previously saying he would not serve in Johnson’s Cabinet, and insisted he would “respect the result of the election whoever is successful”.
But in December, Mundell was asked by the BBC if he would remain in the Cabinet if Johnson replaced Theresa May.
He said: “Given my views about Mr Johnson which are well known that would be extremely difficult.
“Mr Johnson and I don’t agree on a whole range of issues and I don’t see myself being able to serve in that way.”
Ross Thomson, a prominent Scottish Tory supporter of Johnson, said it was “an incredible result that defies all expectations”.
“This isn’t the ceiling of support either,” he added.
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