article_snippet: There was particular consternation that David Cameron effectively fired the starting gun on a leadership contest by naming three potential successors: Home Secretary Theresa May, London Mayor Boris Johnson and Mr Osborne, the Chancellor.
article_snippet: Mrs May and Boris Johnson have long been seen the leading rivals to be the next Tory leader, but David Cameron sparked frenzied speculation at Westminster by including David Cameron name of Mr Osborne, David Cameron closest ally.
article_snippet: Since David Cameron unpopular Budget of 2012, Mr Osborne’s leadership prospects have been discounted by many.
article_snippet: Mr Osborne is thought to be the Prime Minister’s preference to be Mr Osborne successor.
article_snippet: But the recent turnaround in ’ Mr Osborne popularity as the economy improves has led many MPs to reconsider.
article_snippet: Polls suggest ’ Mr Osborne has become the most popular Conservative Treasury spokesman since Nigel Lawson in 1987.
article_snippet: Mr Cameron has propelled ’ Mr Osborne into the top three, quite deliberately,’ said one senior MP.
article_snippet: Mr Osborne or not remains to be seen.
article_snippet: ’ Mr Osborne has been a good Chancellor of the Exchequer, but people resent ’ Mr Osborne coterie of apparatchiks and think ’ Mr Osborne is ultimately unelectable.