KEIGHLEY MP Kris Hopkins has announced he is backing Home Secretary Theresa May in the race to become the next Prime Minister, saying the country was in a "perilous" period and faced multiple threats.

Mrs May is considered a frontrunner in the race to take over when David Cameron leaves office, after former Mayor of London Boris Johnson made the surprise announcement today that he would not stand.

Mr Hopkins, who campaigned for Britain to remain in the EU, said Mrs May could "bring the country back together" in the wake of the vote to leave the European Union.

He said: "Our country has now entered one of its most perilous and uncertain periods since the Second World War. And we need a serious and trusted person to be our Prime Minister.

"We face threats to our economy, threats to our security and threats to the very existence of our United Kingdom.

"Over the last six years at the very top level of Government, Theresa May has proven herself to be one of the toughest and most astute Home Secretaries of modern times.

"She has also pledged to bring the country back together and, as the breadth of her support in the party from former Remain and Leave supporters demonstrates, she has appeal across the political spectrum.

"Having worked closely with her throughout that period, I can say without hesitation that Theresa is the right person with the right experience to tackle the many challenges we face."

Conservative MPs had until noon today to join the race for the Conservative leadership.

Those also in the running are Justice Secretary Michael Gove, energy minister and Brexit campaigner Andrea Leadsom, former Defence Secretary Liam Fox and Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb.

Shipley MP Philip Davies, a prominent Brexit campaigner, said he had not yet made up his mind who he would back.

He said he planned to meet with all candidates to see which one could best "deliver what people voted for last week".

But he said this wouldn't necessarily be a politician who had campaigned for Leave.

He said: "As [Business Secretary] Sajid Javid said, we are all Brexiteers now, so it is who I think is going to see through what the electorate voted for."

Calder Valley MP Craig Whittaker and Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith have both said they will be backing Theresa May.

Mr Whittaker said: "I’m supporting Theresa May. She will be a great steady hand on the tiller whilst at the same time bringing innovation and inspiration to the heart Government and of the country.

She’s also the most successful Home Secretary this country has ever had as well as its third longest serving."