Bristol-raised politician Sajid Javid appears to still have his sights set on becoming the next prime minister when Theresa May eventually steps down.
Home secretary Who is Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary among favourites to replace Theresa May as prime minister?has reportedly told Tory MPs only he can beat Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in a General Election as he reaches 'all parts of the electorate', according to the Mail Online.
It is not such an unlikely scenario that the former Downend School pupil could soon be running the country.
Mr Javid was made one of the bookies’ favourites to take up residency at Number 10, Downing Street, at the end of last year when Mrs May faced a no confidence vote amongst Tory MPs which she eventually won.
However his perceived popularity amongst the electorate has meant he is still very much seen as a contender for the job.
According to the Mail Online supporters of the Home Secretary are hitting back at claims Boris Johnson is the front runner in the race to succeed Theresa May, citing polling data showing that Mr Javid is the least disliked Tory leadership contender in the eyes of the public.
Who is Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary among favourites to replace Theresa May as prime minister?
The data was part of a widespread poll conducted by Deltapoll on behalf of The Mail on Sunday last week and has been pounced on by MPs keen to give their chosen candidate some momentum.
In the case of Mr Javid, who grew up in a two-bedroom flat in Stapleton Road, the data showed that he was seen as better for the country than other frontrunners Boris Johnson and Michael Gove.
According to the Mail one ally of the Home Secretary said: “Everyone always says its Boris who can win over new voters, but he's toxic after Brexit.
“Sajid reaches parts of the electorate that the party have struggled to connect with for decades, like ethnic minorities and inner-city voters.
“Sajid was slow out the traps but he's got numbers on his side.”
The 49-year-old is son of Pakistani migrants, with his father, Abdul, arriving at Heathrow Airport in 1961 with just £1 in his pocket.
After working in cotton mills and as a bus driver, Abdul would later run his own shop in Bristol, raising five sons in the flat above the shop.
Sajid Javid opens up about racist attacks at Bristol school after Syrian boy 'waterboarded'
Mr Javid attended Downend School, where he said he Sajid Javid opens up about racist attacks at Bristol school after Syrian boy 'waterboarded' as the result of his heritage, before going on to Filton Technical College in 1986.
The Rochdale-born politician then relocated to Exeter for university where he studied economics and politics and got involved with the Conservative Party. The father-of-four worked in the City of London, reportedly becoming a millionaire thanks to taking home £3m-a-year while at Deutsche Bank, before becoming MP for Bromsgrove in 2010.
In 2016, he stood on a joint ticket for Tory leader alongside ex-welfare secretary Stephen Crabb MP, but the pair went out in the first round.
