Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said his ambition to lead the Tories has not "completely vanished" as Boris Johnson faces the threat of a challenge.
Hunt, who has also served as Foreign Secretary, insisted in an interview "it would take a lot to persuade me to put my hat into the ring".
The comments were interpreted as a sign that a challenge to the Prime Minister could be coming as he battles to maintain authority over allegations of rule-breaking parties in No 10.
So far six Tory MPs have publicly called for Johnson to resign over the affair, while many more are believed to have sent in letters in an attempt to prompt a no-confidence vote.
It is believed around 35 letters have already been sent to the 1922 Committee.
The House magazine said Hunt denied actively considering a run, before adding: "I won't say my ambition has completely vanished, but it would take a lot to persuade me to put my hat into the ring."
Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss are seen as the two frontrunners for any challenge to Johnson.
Hunt was the strongest opponent against Johnson when he won the leadership in 2019, coming second before being comfortably beaten.
Dominic Cummings, Johnson's former chief adviser who has accused the PM of lying to Parliament over parties, said Hunt's remarks were a sign of a challenge.
He tweeted: "The is SW1 code for: leadership contest is imminent, sign up early if you want a seat in Cabinet, am on phone to donors & getting office set up, there has to be one non-brexit nutter in last 2."
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