Tory leadership contender Nadhim Zahawi would offer Boris Johnson a job in his Cabinet if he became prime minister, he confirmed on Wednesday.
The chancellor described Mr Johnson as a "friend" and "probably the most consequential" prime minister of his generation.
"Boris Johnson is a friend of mine of 30 years. If he wishes to serve in Cabinet then I would certainly offer him a job," Mr Zahawi told LBC.
"He has been probably the most consequential prime minister of his generation. If you go back to Margaret Thatcher, John Major, then Tony Blair, and of course Gordon Brown and then David Cameron and Theresa May and now Boris Johnson, he has delivered Brexit he got us through [the pandemic]."
Mr Zahawi is one of eight remaining Tory leadership candidates battling to reach the 30 MP supporter threshold required in the first knockout round of the Tory leadership contest on Wedneday.
He was made chancellor last week when Rishi Sunak resigned saying he had lost confidence in Mr Johnson's leadership.
On Wednesday, he insisted he "put country first" when, just 24 hours after being promoted, he publicly urged the PM to resign.
Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, he said the number of ministerial resignations convinced him that "we couldn't realistically have a functioning government".
"I thought the only thing to do was write a letter to him [Mr Johnson] because I had been to see him personally. I think he did the right thing," The Stratford-on-Avon MP said.
"I think that's putting country first.”
