Theresa May lines up head of Vote Leave campaign behind £350m NHS claim to lead overhaul of Conservative Party

Matthew Elliott said to be in advanced negotiations over a senior role that would cheer Tories backing a hard Brexit

Vote Leave chief Matthew Elliott also founded the Taxpayers' Alliance (Rex Features)

The leader of the Vote Leave campaign is being lined up for a top job as Theresa May plots to overhaul the under-fire running of the Conservative Party.

Matthew Elliott is said to be in advanced negotiations over a senior role, in a move that would bolster the hard Brexit-backing Tory wing.

It has been suggested that the former chief executive of Vote Leave – who also set up the low-tax Taxpayers' Alliance pressure group – could be made party vice-chairman.

The appointment is designed to be part of changes deemed necessary after the Tories' disastrous election campaign and shambolic conference.

It would be certain to cheer Brexiteers who fear the Prime Minister will make concessions in a bid to unlock the stalled exit negotiations.

Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, attempted to draw red lines to prevent a Norway-style deal that would keep Britain closely aligned with the EU’s trading arrangements.

And, in the Commons this week, Tory backbenchers fired warning shots over the size of the so-called divorce bill, amid rumours Ms May has privately agreed to pay than €20bn.

Since the referendum ‘yes’ vote, Mr Elliott has criticised the Bank of England governor for allegedly trying to slow Brexit with a lengthier transitional deal.

He also argued the Article 50 withdrawal notice should have been triggered immediately after the referendum result, when the Government was enjoying a “bounce”.

And he insisted it was a nonsense to claim Brexit was anything other a vote to leave both the EU single market and customs union.

Mr Elliott has declined to comment, but a Conservative source told The Times: “We are in discussions with Matthew about a role, but nothing has been confirmed yet.”