Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nadine Dorries have thrown their weight behind Liz Truss to become the next PM - while delivering a dig at favourite Rishi Sunak.
Mr Rees-Mogg branded Foreign Secretary Ms Truss a "proper Conservative", while Ms Dorries said: "I'm very aware that she's probably a stronger Brexiteer than both of us."
The Culture Secretary and the Brexit opportunities minister gave their public backing to Ms Truss when speaking to reporters in Downing Street after attending Mr Johnson's Cabinet meeting.
Following Education Secretary James Cleverly in backing Ms Truss, Mr Rees-Mogg said she has "always opposed Rishi's higher taxes, that again is proper conservativism".
Ms Dorries said Ms Truss, who voted Remain in the 2016 referendum, is probably a "stronger Brexiteer than both of us" and has "consistently argued for low tax policies".
"She's been my strongest supporter in the Cabinet in getting Brexit opportunities."
The Brexit opportunities minister told reporters in Downing Street: "I'm also going to be backing Liz Truss. As Nadine said, I think she's a stronger Brexiteer than either of us and that's really important.
"She has been my strongest supporter in the Cabinet in getting Brexit opportunities. When we discussed taxation, Liz always opposed to Rishi's higher taxes. That, again, is proper Conservatism.
"I think she's got the character to lead the party and the nation."
Asked if the Foreign Secretary was the "stop Rishi" candidate, Mr Rees-Mogg said: "Liz Truss is the best candidate, that's what we're working for. She's a proper Eurosceptic, she'll deliver for the voters and she believes in low taxation."
"And she's a woman," Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries added.
Earlier Transport Secretary Grant Shapps dropped out of the Tory leadership contest - throwing his weight behind favourite Rishi Sunak.
The move is a big boost for the former Chancellor, who quit the Cabinet last Tuesday after serving in Boris Johnson's government since February 2020.
At the weekend Mr Shapps threw his hat into the ring, vowing to shrink the state and end "tactical government by an often distracted centre."
Last night he had the public backing of 10 Tory MPs - with 20 required in order for his campaign to proceed to the next round.
He wrote on Twitter : "Huge thanks to my team for helping to pull together my leadership bid in literally no time! Amongst a field of brilliant candidates I've spoken to @RishiSunak who I believe has the competence and experience to lead this country."
Mr Shapps, who has held various frontbench roles since joining the then-shadow cabinet in 2007, was a key part of Boris Johnson's 2018 leadership campaign.
The Transport Secretary first became a household name - or names - after he was found to have used the alias Michael Green to sell get-rich-quick schemes on the internet.
Mr Sunak will receive heavyweight support from another ex-chancellor, Lord Lamont, who said Mr Sunak has the courage to take the "tough decisions" needed to deal with the "extremely serious" economic situation.
Candidates require the support of 20 MPs in order to make the leadership contest, with nominations closing later on Tuesday.
By Tuesday morning, Mr Sunak, Penny Mordaunt and Tom Tugendhat look to already have the declared backers to make the threshold.
