Lord Digby Jones: Sajid Javid could do a better job than Boris for the West Midlands

That's the view of Lord Digby Jones, who says Theresa May's successor will face an uphill battle getting any Brexit deal through the "deliberately disruptive" Remainer Parliament.

The former Trade minister and CBI boss has never belonged to a political party, but he says it is vital for the nation's economy that the Conservatives pick a leader capable of defeating Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Speaking at a business event hosted by the Richardsons, he told the E&S: "I'm a Sajid Javid fan. For me he represents the 21st century and I think he would really connect with the West Midlands and its communities.

"But there are two issues overhanging the whole leadership contest. One is who will conclude Brexit, and the other one is who will beat Corbyn at a general election.

"I think there are two or three of them who could possibly do that. I'm not a Boris fan. I think he lost too much street cred when he was Foreign Secretary and for me he didn't show the depth needed for such a key role.

"On his plus side he is well known, and I'm sure he would say he is the only one of them who could beat Corbyn.

"Believe me, for the business community of the West Midlands someone needs to beat Corbyn.

"Dominic Raab would do Brexit very well, but it is questionable whether he would he have enough in the tank to win a general election."

Brexiteer Lord Jones has also cast doubt on the UK's chances of leaving the EU on October 31, warning: "Changing the leader does not change the dynamics that we have a Remainer Parliament deliberately disrupting the will of the people.

"You've also got an opposition that is doing everything it can to disrupt the whole process just to force a general election for personal ambition.

"The leave date of October 31 is sitting there, and Macron – who isn't right about everything – has said we will be in the same position then as we are now.

"He's right. "I don't have confidence that Parliament will let us leave then."

Having backed Mrs May's Brexit deal when it went before peers, Lord Jones says he would prefer to leave the bloc on those terms – although he has no fear of a 'no deal' Brexit.

"I'd rather leave with 'no deal' than not leave at all," he said.

"The British economy will cope whatever happens. Would we be richer with a deal? Yes, but this is about control, it's about who runs us.

"I don't want to be run by Germany."