Boris is back – former PM returns from holiday as Rishi Sunak qualifies for latest race for top job

Boris Johnson returned to Britain from holiday on Saturday to consider an audacious bid for a second term as prime minister in a race that could pit him against his former finance minister whose resignation in July helped drive him out of office.

Potential candidates to replace Prime Minister Liz Truss, who quit on Thursday after six weeks in office, were embarking on a frantic weekend of lobbying to secure enough nominations to enter the leadership contest before Monday’s deadline.

Johnson, who was on holiday in the Caribbean when Truss resigned, has not commented publicly about a bid for his old job. He has received the support of dozens of Conservative lawmakers, but needs 100 nominations to be considered.

Trade department minister James Duddridge said on Friday Johnson told him he was “up for it”. He said on Saturday Johnson had secured 100 nominations, although a Reuters tally put him at just above 40 and Rishi Sunak, a former finance minister whose decision to resign helped bring Johnson down, at more than 110.

The new prime minister, a post that will have changed hands three times in four years, faces a huge inbox after Truss’s economic plans caused turmoil in bond markets, raised government borrowing costs and added further strains to households and businesses already struggling with a cost-of-living crisis.

The Sunday Times newspaper reported Sunak, for now the bookmakers’ favourite, and Johnson could meet late on Saturday. It did not give details on any planned discussions.

Only former defence minister Penny Mordaunt has formally declared she will run, although a Reuters tally showed she only had 22 nominations so far before Monday’s deadline at 1pm local time.