LONDON • One of the leading contenders to replace Mrs Theresa May as Britain's next prime minister has admitted to using cocaine two decades ago.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove, who is among the front runners to succeed Mrs May after she resigned as Conservative Party leader on Friday, said he regretted it.

"About 20 years ago, before I was married, I did take drugs," he told the Daily Mail, adding that it happened "on several occasions at social events".

"It was something I deeply regret. Drugs damage lives... It was a mistake."

The 51-year-old Tory MP said he was "a young journalist" when he decided to take cocaine and that he had not envisaged going into politics at the time.

"I look back and I think, 'I wish I hadn't done that'. But I don't believe that past mistakes disqualify you," he said.

"Obviously it will be for my colleagues in Parliament and members of the Conservatives Party to decide now if I should be leader."

Mrs May stepped down as Conservative leader on Friday and formally triggered the race for a successor - currently being contested by Mr Gove and 10 other MPs - but will remain prime minister until a new leader is chosen.

The leader of the party, which won the most seats at the last general election in 2017, automatically becomes prime minister.

The battle is expected to conclude by the end of next month, with former foreign secretary Boris Johnson the bookmakers' favourite to emerge victorious. Mr Johnson, a former London mayor, has previously suggested he may have tried to use cocaine, but later denied he had actually taken the drug.

Other candidates, including current Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt and former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, have owned up to using cannabis in their younger days.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE