Jeremy Hunt vows to end Tories’ ‘money, money, money’ image in race to succeed Theresa May

Two other likely candidates – Dominic Raab and Liz Truss – demand tougher stance in talks with EU

Jeremy Hunt has fired the first shot in the battle to succeed Theresa May, vowing to fight for the Tories not to be seen as the “money, money, money party”.

The foreign secretary appeared to set out his stall to be the candidate for “one nation Conservatism” – while insisting it was too early for anyone to throw their hat into the ring.

His call came as two other likely candidates – ex-Brexit secretary Dominic Raab and Liz Truss, the Treasury chief secretary – demanded a tougher stance in talks with the EU.

Meanwhile, the prime minister’s spokesperson hinted Ms May would stand down even if her deal fails to pass – having told Conservative MPs she would go if the agreement was approved.

Asked if she would “stay on” if the deal did not get through, the spokesperson replied: “The prime minister’s focus is on getting the deal through.

“She is very clear there is a job to be done to deliver on the verdict of the British people.”

Despite her dramatic announcement on Wednesday night, Ms May has yet to set out a detailed timetable for her departure, even if – as seems unlikely – a third meaningful vote fails.

Nevertheless, a crowded field of at least half-a-dozen candidates is already being formed for a leadership contest expected this summer.

Ms Truss used a speech to the British Chambers of Commerce conference to argue for a hard Brexit Canada-style trade deal with the EU, which would require breaking free of the Irish backstop.

She urged MPs to back the prime minister’s deal, but added: “I’m a free trader, I believe that we need to open our economy to the rest of the world. I would like to see us do a Canada-style free trade deal once we have left.”

Mr Raab burnished his credentials to the Tory right by demanding a willingness to accept a no-deal Brexit, if the EU “just won’t move” on the deal on offer.

“I think we should have sensible conversations over the two weeks we’ve got left over the suite of no-deal arrangements that can be made to mitigate any of the potential damage on either side,” he told the BBC.

In a wide-ranging interview, Mr Hunt admitted his party needed “a social mission”, saying: “People have got to see that we are not the money, money, money party.

“We have consistently failed in my political lifetime to win the battle of values.”

Mr Hunt argued the painful battles, since 2010, to repair the public finances and deliver Brexit had denied David Cameron and Ms May “a chance to show the British people what One Nation Conservatism can be”.

“That I think has to be our mission because, if we don’t win the battle of values, we won’t win over young people, and young people are not just the future of the country, they are the future of the Conservative Party,” he told the London Evening Standard.

Rising backbencher Johnny Mercer urged his party to look beyond Brexit to choose its next leader, reflecting fears the contest will be dominated by the immediate crisis.

Calling for Tory members to choose from a slate of four, not two, candidates, he said: “If it’s two, Brexit will again define the debate, yet the country wants a leader who is not going to be defined by that one issue.

“It will force candidates to lay out what a modern Conservatism that can invigorate our movement truly is – beyond Brexit.”