Boris Johnson and Theresa May should join forces to unite the Tory party and country after David Cameron steps down, a cabinet minister has said.
Brexit campaign frontman Mr Johnson and the Remain-backing Home Secretary are seen as the two leading candidates to replace the Prime Minister.
But Justine Greening said a leadership battle now would not be in the interests of the country and urged the pair to strike a deal to avoid a contest.
The International Development Secretary said a "strong Conservative government" should have Mr Johnson at its centre to recognise the outcome of the European Union referendum.
Mrs May would also have to be at the heart of the administration as the country works on tackling issues around migration and freedom of movement, she said.
Writing on the Conservative Home website Ms Greening said: "A leadership contest now is not in the interests of our country. It will mean our party focuses inward - at the very time our country most needs us to focus outward.
"Instead of a leadership contest which could take weeks and months, Boris Johnson and Theresa May should agree to forge a deal which means they are a united leadership, under one or the other: a united leadership that for the sake of unity I hope the rest of our party could support."
She added that if Mr Johnson and Mrs May were unable to agree, another pair of MPs from either side of the referendum divide could step forward to "bring Britain back together".
Mr Cameron announced his intention to leave Number 10 in the wake of the humiliating referendum defeat and said he would like his successor to be in place by the time of the Tory party conference in October.
The first potential contender in the Tory leadership contest has broken cover, with Liam Fox admitting he is "thinking about" standing to replace Mr Cameron.
The Brexit-backing former defence secretary made his comments after former leader Iain Duncan Smith said the new Tory prime minister must come from the Leave camp.
Mr Duncan Smith's hard-line stance would rule out Mrs May for the top job, as she is positioned as the "Stop Boris" candidate by MPs loyal to Mr Cameron.
Additional reporting by the Press Association.
