Tory leadership contender Michael Gove insists he has “evolved” as a politician since previously stating he was “incapable” of being prime minister and is now ready for the top job.

The comments came as the crossfire over a no-deal Brexit dominated the fight for the Tory crown.

Chancellor Philip Hammond repeatedly refused to rule out backing a no confidence vote in Theresa May’s successor if they went for a no-deal Brexit in October.

As the battle for Downing Street hotted up, Mr Gove claimed he had gained more experience since remarking he was incapable of being PM.

He told BBC Radio 4 podcast, Political Thinking with Nick Robinson: “I’ve changed my mind.

“In those three years I have been through a variety of experiences.

“I led, some people may lament this, but I led the campaign to leave the European Union and that involved going up head to head with David Cameron and others in the debate formats that we had.

“And being tested during that campaign, having had time to reflect when I was on the backbenches and then coming back into government.

“I think that I’ve evolved as a politician, but, obviously, we’ll see in the course of the next few days and weeks who people think has what it takes.”

As Tory Brexit tensions increased, Mr Hammond said talk of a renegotiation before the end of October was a “fig leaf for a policy of leaving on no-deal terms”.

He told BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show: “That policy has a major flaw in it … and that is that Parliament has voted very clearly to oppose a no-deal exit.

“A prime minister who ignores Parliament cannot expect to survive very long.”

Asked if whether he would vote against the Government over no-deal withdrawal if he was a backbencher in the autumn, the Chancellor said: “I would certainly not support a strategy to take us out with no deal.”

On whether he would vote against the Government in a confidence motion in the circumstance of no deal, Mr Hammond said: “It’s a hypothetical question because I don’t know what the confidence motion is.”

He added: “I’m saying this is a very difficult situation. It would challenge not just me, but many of our colleagues, and I hope we will never get to that position.”

Leadership contenders Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab, Andrea Leadsom and Esther McVey have said they would be prepared to quit with no deal on October 31 if necessary.

Mr Gove said he would set out his stance on no deal in the coming days, but that he agreed with Mrs May on the need for compromise in politics.

Mr Raab said he would prefer a deal, but Britain had to show it was prepared to walk away in negotiations with the EU.

He told the BBC: “I would fight for a fairer deal in Brussels with negotiations to change the backstop arrangements, and if not I would be clear that we would leave on WTO terms in October.

“We need to go out and be absolutely resolute in the way we weren’t last time.

“It is achievable, but it will need some goodwill on the other side too.”

He added: “I will not ask for an extension. Of course, if Parliament legislates that then we would be in a difficult position.”

Mr Gove’s intervention in the race is likely to cause concern to current front-runner Mr Johnson.

A spectacular falling-out between the two former allies in the 2016 leadership contest helped destroy both men’s chances of the top job.

Mr Gove insisted he could be trusted when asked about campaigning against his previous political ally David Cameron in the referendum, and the way he suddenly abandoned Mr Johnson in the 2016 leadership contest.

Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson had been the favourite for the Tory leadership, but will that change after Michael Gove’s declaration to join the contest? (PA)

Ms McVey told Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday that the UK must start preparing for a no-deal exit straight away.

She added: “October 31 is the key date and we are coming out then, and if that means without a deal then that’s what it means.

“We won’t be asking for any more extensions.”

Mr Hammond’s Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) said a second referendum is inevitable.

Tory MP Huw Merriman told BBC Sunday Politics South East: “I think a second referendum is inevitable. It’s not something I ever wanted because I wanted to pursue Leave.

“But, we’ve seen a majority of MPs continue to vote for nothing, no majority for anything, which means we can either carry on in this vein or be realistic and say we’re going to have to put this back to the people to make a decision.”

The new Tory leader looks set to take over as prime minister at the end of July after Mrs May finally laid out a timetable for her exit from Downing Street.

The timetable for the contest will see nominations close in the week of June 10, with MPs involved in a series of votes to whittle down the crowded field to a final two contenders.

Tory Party members will then decide who wins the run-off.