....Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Philip Hammond is seen as the front-runner to succeed Theresa May as chancellor
Boris Johnson is backing Philip Hammond to be chancellor after the next general election, he has told the BBC.
The former foreign secretary said the outgoing Chancellor's "wise" and "pragmatic" approach to Brexit would be very valuable to the government.
But he added that he could not say "whether Philip's successor will be him or anyone else".
Mr Johnson has said there is "an opportunity" to unblock the current impasse in Parliament on Brexit and that "all options remain on the table".
But, asked about the person who would replace him if he becomes prime minister, he said: "I think I don't know enough about their politics, I don't know enough about their views to say."
And he added: "I don't want to comment on something that is not going to happen in the next few months."
'Wise'
The Conservatives are currently deeply split on Brexit, with MPs - who could yet be able to reject the deal agreed between the government and the EU - wanting a clean break with the EU, or the UK remaining in the single market and customs union.
Labour, meanwhile, is committed to a close relationship with the EU, while the Liberal Democrats favour a second referendum.
The prime minister's current cabinet ally, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd, suggested last week that the Conservatives could face a leadership election in September in the event of a Brexit delay, if the deal she has negotiated fails to win parliamentary approval.
Mr Johnson said it was "wonderful to have Amber at the heart of the government, and it's wonderful to have someone as capable in Work and Pensions as Amber".
And he said she was a "very wise member" of the government, adding that he thought she was a "great secretary of state".
Asked whether he would like the chancellor to be a Brexiteer or an EU-enthusiast, Mr Johnson said: "I think it's perfectly possible for him to be a very wise, pragmatic chancellor, and quite happy with some of our [UK] commitments inside the European Union and happy to take some of the rights and obligations that the EU has given us."
When asked if he would like him to be a Brexiteer, he replied: "Well, I haven't read be359ba680
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