Three Scots-born Conservative politicians are in the running to become the party's next leader.

Michael Gove, who turned on Vote Leave ally Boris Johnson to announce his own candidacy earlier on Thursday, was born and raised in Scotland.

Leadership rival Liam Fox also grew up north of the border, while Stephen Crabb - who was first to announce his candidacy - was born in Inverness and brought up in Wales.

Outgoing Prime Minister David Cameron was born in London but his father was born at Blairmore House, Aberdeenshire, which was built by the Tory leader's great-great-grandfather.

His predecessor Gordon Brown was Kirkcaldy born-and-bred, while Tony Blair was born in Edinburgh and later attended Fettes boarding school in the capital.

Scots-born politicians have a habit of ending up in No 10. Will the outcome of the Conservative leadership contest see history repeat itself?

Justice secretary and former education secretary Michael Gove was born in Edinburgh and raised in Aberdeen before going to Oxford University.

He, along with Boris Johnson, was in the cohort of Conservative politicians who backed and campaigned for Brexit in the EU referendum.

Earlier on Thursday Gove entered the party's leadership race after he was widely expected to not run in favour of Leave colleague Johnson.

He had previously denied on multiple occasions that he had any ambitions to lead his party or the country.

Announcing his candidacy, Gove said: "I have come, reluctantly, to the conclusion that Boris cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead.

"I have, therefore, decided to put my name forward for the leadership."

He added: "I want there to be an open and positive debate about the path the country will now take.

"Whatever the verdict of that debate I will respect it.

"In the next few days I will lay out my plan for the United Kingdom which I hope can provide unity and change."

His surprise announcement prompted Johnson to rule himself out of the running.

The bookies put Gove as their second-favourite to win, behind Home secretary Theresa May, who also revealed she was standing on Thursday.

North Somerset MP and former defence secretary Dr Liam Fox was born and raised in East Kilbride before studying medicine at Glasgow University.

He held a number of junior ministerial positions in John Major's government before being appointed minister at the Foreign Office in 1996.

Fox stood against David Cameron in the 2005 Conservative leadership race, finishing third. A former co-chairman of the party, he is a popular figure among the Tory grassroots.

He was shadow defence secretary between 2005 and 2010 before taking the office after the Conservative victory in 2010.

However, Fox resigned in 2011 following controversy over his connections with lobbyist Adam Werrity.

Announcing his plans to stand, Fox said Brexit was a "new dawn" for the UK, which must be approached with "a spirit of confidence, optimism and hope".

In a warning to the SNP, he also said: "I have no problem being proud to be a Scot and simultaneously proud to be British, but we will have to defend our precious union from the forces of nationalism who would sow the seeds of division amongst us."

He is currently the longest odds to win the Conservative Party leadership.

Work and pensions secretary Stephen Crabb was born in Inverness and brought up by his Scottish mother in Haverfordwest, south west Wales before going on to study at Bristol.

The MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire was elected in 2005 and rose through the party ranks to become secretary of state for Wales in 2014.

He has only been in his work and pensions post since March of this year.

Crabb was first to announce his candidacy on Wednesday, with business secretary Sajid David as his number two in what Crabb called a "blue collar" ticket.

He backed the Remain campaign but vowed to implement Brexit if elected, and also promised curbing immigration would be a "red line" in any EU negotiations led by him.

Crabb is an outsider, ranked by the bookies as fourth in the race, but some feel the party needs leaders from more relatable backgrounds.

They point to the success of Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, who - like Crabb - comes from a working-class background.

For her part, Davidson considers Crabb a "political soulmate" and has said she would "find it very hard to vote for anyone else" in the event he entered the leadership fray.