LONDON – Boris Johnson returned to Britain on Saturday as he considers an audacious bid for a second term as prime minister just weeks after being forced to resign, with some colleagues warning that his return could cause more political chaos.
Potential replacements for Prime Minister Liz Truss, who abruptly stepped down on Thursday after only six weeks in office, were embarking on a frantic weekend of lobbying to secure enough nominations to enter the leadership race before Monday’s deadline.
Johnson, who was on vacation in the Caribbean when Truss resigned, has not publicly commented on a bid for his old job. He has the backing of dozens of Conservative lawmakers, but he needs 100 nominations to be considered.
On Friday, trade minister James Duddridge said Johnson told him he was “up for it.”
Some passengers on the plane to Britain booed Johnson, according to a Sky News reporter on the flight, which arrived in London on Saturday morning.
Johnson, dressed in a dark jacket and backpack, waved to photographers at London’s Gatwick Airport before driving away.
It would be a remarkable political comeback for the former journalist and ex-Mayor of London, who left Downing Street shrouded in the scandal but complaining that his colleagues “changed the rules halfway through” a race – a dig at Conservative lawmakers who did not allow him to serve a full term.
Former defense minister Penny Mordaunt became the first candidate to officially declare an intention to run to be the next leader of the Conservative Party, but Johnson and Rishi Sunak, once his finance minister, led potential contenders ahead of voting next week.
Sunak, who was runner-up to Truss in the previous leadership contest and has yet to formally declare his candidacy this time, did not speak to reporters when leaving his London home on Saturday.
The prospect of the return of Johnson to government is a polarising issue for many in the Conservative Party, which is deeply divided after seeing off four prime ministers in six years.
For some Conservative lawmakers, Johnson is a vote-winner, able to appeal across the country not only with his celebrity but also with his brand of energetic optimism.
For others, he is a toxic figure and the question is whether he can convince the dozens of lawmakers who abandoned him that he is now the person who can unite the party and turn around its flagging fortunes.
A Spiral Of Death
Ex-interior minister Priti Patel announced her support for her former boss on Saturday, saying he had “the mandate to deliver our elected manifesto and a proven track record getting the big decisions right.”
But her colleague Andrew Bridgen said he would consider resigning from the parliamentary group if Johnson returns and warned the Conservatives against developing a “personality cult” around the former prime minister. Dominic Raab, a foreign minister under Johnson, said the party risked going “backwards” if he returned.
The former Conservative leader William Hague said on Friday Johnson’s return was possibly the worst idea he had heard in almost half a century as a party member. He said it would lead to a “death spiral” for the Conservatives.
If Johnson can secure the required number of nominations, he is likely to go head-to-head with Sunak, who quit as his finance minister in July, claiming that his former boss was unable to take tough decisions.
Sunak is the first leadership candidate to hit the threshold of 100 nominations to enter the contest before Monday’s deadline, according to media reports.
Johnson, who currently has about half the support needed, is currently under investigation by parliament’s Privileges Committee to establish whether he lied to the House of Commons over lockdown-breaking parties. If ministers are found to have knowingly misled parliament, they are expected to resign.
The contest to become Britain’s fourth prime minister in four years has been accelerated to take only a week. Under the rules, only three candidates will be able to reach the first ballot of lawmakers on Monday afternoon, with the final two put to a vote of party members for a result by next Friday. – Reuters
New Malaysia Herald publishes articles, comments and posts from various contributors. We always welcome new content and write up. If you would like to contribute please contact us at : editor@newmalaysiaherald.com
Facebook Comments
Facebook Comments