Early polling strongly suggests that former foreign secretary Boris Johnson holds a strong lead in the race to be the next Conservative Party leader and thus Britain’s next prime minister. But speaking on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday the 54-year-old TV presenter said his “special relationship” with President Donald Trump makes him a “brilliant” candidate.

Morgan blasted May for clinging onto power and described her leadership as “cringe making, stubborn and embarrassing”.

He was described as “hopeless” by his co-presenter Susanna Reid but the former tabloid editor was unruffled. “I’d be brilliant. I’d have a very special relationship with the President of the United States,” he said.

We would sort the new world order out and I’d get stuff done. First sign of a cabinet rebellion early on, bang, out all of you.

Morgan then took aim at some prominent Tories branding Johnson a “naughty boy” and said he would have put Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling “in a taxi if I didn't think he’d crash it”.

The suggestion sparked a debate on Twitter, with some fans offering their support to Morgan's leadership bid.