DAVID Cameron has announced he will stand down as Prime Minister by October but who are his potential replacements?

Boris Johnson

The former London mayor is the bookies' favourite to succeed his Old Etonian school chum at No 10. Mr Johnson previously insisted he had less chance of taking the top job than being "reincarnated as an olive" but his protestations have done little to disguise his ambitions. At the weekend he summoned friendly Tory MPs to his Oxfordshire home in likely preparation for a run. After leading the Brexiteers to victory his stock among Conservative grassroots Eurosceptics will be higher than ever. But Tory leadership contests have a funny habit of failing to return the dead cert. Ex-minister Alan Duncan said despite Mr Johnson's "excitement and notoriety", many activists did not want a "permanent ride on the big dipper".

Theresa May

Hanging on to the Home Secretary brief, which notoriously ruins political careers, for six years shows Mrs May's durability. Although a Remain supporter, she disappeared off the radar during the campaign, leaving her relatively unscathed. No fan of Mr Cameron, she has been quietly courting the party's rank and file in readiness for his departure and is placed by the bookies as second to Mr Johnson. Some MPs - including Iain Duncan Smith - have publicly urged MPs not to consider candidates who did not support Brexit in the referendum campaign. International Development Secretary Justine Greening has appealed to Mrs May and Mr Johnson to form a "united leadership" to help bring the country back together.

Michael Gove

The Justice Secretary has seen his public profile increase over the last few weeks and, bar the occasional sticky moment, he is generally regarded to have had a good campaign. The bookies' odds on Mr Gove, whose once close friendship with Mr Cameron has come under strain as the rough and tumble of the battle took its toll, becoming leader have tumbled. But many believe he is more likely to seek an influential role in a Boris Johnson-led administration - possibly as deputy prime minister leading the negotiations over the UK's exit from the EU.

George Osborne

The Chancellor's hopes of moving next door have faded dramatically. An upturn in economic fortunes under his stewardship saw his popularity in the party increase. But his inextricable links to the Prime Minister and his prominent role in the Remain campaign - including stark warnings of more austerity which angered backbenchers - seemed to have scuppered what once seemed a likely promotion. He has said that he will address the question of his future role in the Conservative Party in the coming days. But even allies - such as ex-minister Alan Duncan - say he is "much weakened" and that it would be "very difficult for him to stand on the back of this".

Stephen Crabb

The Work and Pensions Secretary is hugely popular in the Conservative parliamentary party and comes from the sort of ordinary background that chimes with many voters. The former Welsh Secretary says the party should be led by someone "who understands the enormity of the situation we're in and who has got a clear plan to deliver on the expectations of the 17 million people who voted to come out last week" including keeping the United Kingdom together. But the sudden contest may come a little too soon for him to make much headway even as a unity candidate.

Nicky Morgan

The Education Secretary has not ruled out a run, saying that she wanted there to be a woman in the final two candidates between whom party members get to choose. "If that is me or someone else it is too early to tell. I would think about it but it is about what other colleagues are looking for in the next leader." She would represent a moderate continuation of the Cameron legacy. Her support for Remain may count against her.

Sajid Javid

The son of a Pakistani bus driver who went on become a managing director at Deutsche Bank, the Business Secretary - the first Asian male in a Tory cabinet - has long been talked of as a future leader. His chances may be hampered however by claims by former colleagues that he backed Remain while privately supporting Brexit. His handling of the Tata Steel crisis also drew criticism. He says the "party has lots of talents" on both sides of the argument and he is "not going to guess" who will be in the running.

Ruth Davidson

The Scottish Conservative leader has impressed many with her performance during the campaign and electoral success north of the border last month. But a Westminster seat would need to be found for her to have a viable shot at the top job. Ms Davidson has also suggested such a move is not for her, describing life at No 10 as lonely.

Liam Fox

The former defence secretary - who unsuccessfully sought the top job in 2005 - was the first to confirm he was considering a fresh bid. An outspoken supporter of Brexit, he would hope win over the right of the party.

Andrea Leadsom

An assured performance by the Energy Minister for the Brexit side in the referendum campaign has sparked talk of the former banker and fund manager seeking a rapid promotion to the top job. She has declined to rule out a tilt, revealing she was "looking at all sorts of angles and considering".

Priti Patel

Another to have dramatically increased their public profile through a prominent place in the successful push to get Britain out of the EU, the Employment Minister is also tipped as a potential contender. On the right of the party, she is a supporter of the restoration of capital punishment for the most serious crimes.