Sajid Javid is urged to stand aside and let Rishi Sunak have a clear run

Rishi Sunak’s allies have been trying to persuade Sajid Javid to join his campaign for the Tory leadership in an attempt to clear the path for Sunak to win the contest.

The Times has been told that allies of Sunak, the former chancellor, have been in contact with friends of Javid, the former health secretary. They argue that Javid lacks the support and the basic “infrastructure” to make significant inroads and that they are vying for the same voters.

Sir Gavin Williamson, the former education secretary, Sir Robert Buckland, the Welsh secretary, and George Eustice, the environment secretary, are expected to endorse Sunak in the coming days after a launch in which he highlighted support across the party.

The endorsement of Williamson, who has also