Ruth Davidson has backed a Conservative Cabinet campaign to stop David Cameron quitting as Prime Minister.
The Tory leader in Scotland, who is close to the UK boss, wants him to U-turn on his decision not to seek a third term in office.
As revealed by The Press and Journal last month, a number of UK ministers will attempt to persuade Mr Cameron to stay on past the next general election.
Asked if she would back the call, Ms Davidson said: “Yeah, actually, I do want him to stay on.
“I know there’s lots of tittle tattle in the newspapers about how long he might stay after the European vote on June 23.
“I think he’s a great prime minister, I think he’s worked incredibly hard, he’s got a level of experience now that somebody coming in – even if they have been in Cabinet – wouldn’t have and I would absolutely support him staying on.”
The Conservative leader announced almost exactly a year ago that he would not stay on to fight the 2020 vote, but he has repeatedly refused to set out a timetable for his departure.
Theresa May, the Home Secretary, Chancellor George Osborne and Boris Johnson, the Eurosceptic Mayor of London and Tory MP, are among those tipped to run to replace Mr Cameron.
There has also been speculation that Stephen Crabb, who replaced Ian Duncan Smith as Work and Pensions Secretary, could be an outside contender for the position.
But ministers who want him to continue believe the PM is a unifying figure within the Conservatives, despite the party being publicly divided over Europe.
One said: “It is by no means a sure thing that he will go before the election. He can be persuaded.”
Both Labour and the SNP have claimed the attempts to dissuade Mr Cameron from his plan to quit showed the Conservative Party is in “chaos”.