BRITAIN will learn who its next prime minister will be today, as the result of a Tory leadership contest is announced.

Boris Johnson is clear favourite to take the crown over his run-off rival, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

It is understood a Johnson victory could spark more Government resignations.

Ministers opposed to his "do or die" pledge to pull the UK out of the EU on October 31, even if there is no deal in place, could exit before Theresa May formally gives up the premiership on Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Johnson has said he is prepared to borrow more to help out the so-called "squeezed middle" of voters, according to reports.

The ex-foreign secretary is in favour of "fiscal loosening" of tight spending controls imposed by Chancellor Philip Hammond, the Daily Telegraph said.

The newspaper reported that Mr Johnson aims to give tax breaks to people earning less than £80,000 a year if he takes power.

Sir Alan Duncan quit as Foreign Office minister on Monday in protest at Mr Johnson's expected victory, predicting a "crisis of government" if he becomes PM.

Mr Hammond and Justice Secretary David Gauke have already given notice they will resign rather than serve Mr Johnson.

Mr Gauke told The Times that newly elected Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson could take votes from the Tories in the event of a no-deal exit.

He said: "If we were to narrow our support to purely being those in favour of a no-deal Brexit I think we would be significantly out of touch with a lot of people who have traditionally voted Conservative - those who live in London, the home counties, and various other relatively affluent parts of the country."

Employment minister and Johnson backer Alok Sharma called for Tory unity from ministers returning to the back benches.

He told BBC2's Newsnight: "I hope what they will do is reflect on the fact that the new prime minister, if it is Boris, will actually have a mandate from the parliamentary party and from the membership.

"What we will do if we have disunity in the party is risk a Corbyn government."

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Arch Brexiteer Nigel Evans, a senior member of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, predicted Mr Johnson's arrival in Downing Street, telling the BBC: "He will be going in there... with at least half a dozen knives already in his back."

Mrs May will tender her resignation to the Queen after taking Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons on Wednesday afternoon for the final time, with the new Tory leader set to enter Number 10 soon after.

The new prime minister will have to govern with a Tory-DUP majority of just two, after Dover MP Charlie Elphicke had the Conservative whip suspended after being charged with sexually assaulting two women.

The Government majority could be further reduced next week if the Tories lose the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election.

In Somerset, Wells MP James Heappey, alongside fellow Conservative Party MPs Ian Liddell-Grainger (Bridgwater and West Somerset) and Marcus Fysh (Yeovil), have backed Mr Johnson's campaign.

However

Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) has not revealed who she supported in the poll

.