‘Bring back Boris’: with Liz Truss out, supporters call for Johnson’s return
- The disgraced ex-PM is expected to seek a Downing Street comeback, one UK newspaper reported, after his successor resigned in dramatic fashion
- Johnson is still eligible for the role because he remains a Conservative MP, and he continues to enjoy substantial support in Westminster
Backers of Boris Johnson in the ruling Conservative Party are calling for his return as UK prime minister following the dramatic resignation of his successor in 10 Downing Street, Liz Truss.
Johnson, who was only ousted as Britain’s leader in July, has not yet declared his candidacy but is eligible because he remains a Conservative MP. The Times newspaper reported that Johnson is expected to stand, without saying where it obtained the information. Johnson himself has not commented publicly.
His candidacy would be a dramatic twist even in a period of unprecedented chaos in British politics since the 2016 Brexit referendum.
Truss herself is set to become the shortest-ruling prime minister in British history when she formally steps down next week, after seeing her premiership implode due to a lack of political instinct and a fierce backlash against her economic plans.
In Johnson’s favour is that he still has a sizeable group of loyal and vocal backers in Westminster, many of whom credit him for winning their seats at the 2019 general election when he secured a landslide victory.