Mr Boles, who would also have supported Mr Johnson had he stood, said: “It is a great pleasure to have been asked by my good friend (Michael Gove) to run his campaign to be our next Prime Minister”.
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She said: “I seem to remember last time Boris did a deal with the Germans he came back with three nearly-new water cannon”.
“I’d enjoyed working with Boris during the referendum campaign”.
The justice secretary also made a clear appeal to the eurosceptic Tory electorate as he emphasised that – unlike the home secretary – he had helped to lead the Brexit campaign and that he had always wanted to leave the European Union.
“Theresa is a tough negotiator who will be ready to deliver the leadership the country needs from day one”.
He also proposed an end to freedom of movement between Britain and other European countries, as well as introducing an “Australian-style points-based system for immigration” where visa applicants are awarded points for their English and work skills.
Mr Gove has become the first Conservative leadership candidate to publish his tax returns during the campaign. Scotland and Northern Ireland began making noises about referenda of their own to break away from the United Kingdom and retain European Union membership.
Gove had been expected to back Johnson for the top job, and some Conservatives are furious at his betrayal.
But following the decision by prime minister to stand down, any ambition to take over from Mr Cameron was foiled.
“I think it was a distraction, we need Brexit for grown-ups and we need to be talking about the big issues”.
“I never thought I’d be in this position, I did not want it”, he told a news conference in London.
“That is the agenda for the next prime minister of this country”, Mr Johnson told reporters.
“Whatever charisma is I don’t have it, whatever glamour may be I don’t think anyone could ever associate me with it”.
“His one nation Conservatism and his determination to empower those who are in the least comfortable circumstances in life is very much what bought me into politics”.
But he says he reached the decision after asking himself “What is the right thing to do?”
Gove praised May’s achievements as home secretary but said the next premier should be a pro-Brexit campaigner.
“I am the candidate for change”.
The onslaught came as Mr Gove prepared to formally launch his leadership bid with a speech at Westminster setting out his plans for the premiership. “And her track record shows that when Theresa arrives in Brussels, Europe’s bosses sit up and listen”.
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Nadine Dorries, who was left in tears by Mr Johnson’s announcement that he would not be standing in the contest, attacked Mr Gove.
