Boris Johnson returns to UK to attempt rapid political comeback

LONDON (Reuters) – Prime Minister Boris Johnson returned to Britain on Saturday after weighing a bold attempt to win a second term as prime minister just weeks after being forced to resign. chaos.

The candidate to replace Prime Minister Liz Truss stepped down dramatically on Thursday after just six weeks of a change of government, and has spent a desperate weekend trying to secure enough nominations to enter the leadership contest before Monday’s deadline. started lobbying activities.

Johnson, who was vacationing in the Caribbean when Truss resigned, has not publicly commented on his bid for his old job. To do so, we need to secure 100 nominations.

Trade Secretary James Dudridge said on Friday that Mr Johnson had said he was “motivated”.

Johnson was booed by some passengers on the flight to the UK, according to a Sky News reporter on the plane that arrived in London on Saturday morning.

Wearing a dark jacket and backpack, Mr Johnson waved to a photographer at Gatwick Airport before driving off.

For a former journalist and former mayor of London, this would be an extraordinary political comeback. He left Downing Street ravaged by scandal, but complained that his colleagues had “changed the rules” in the middle of the race – a bang on Conservative MPs who didn’t allow it. to serve a term;

Former defense secretary Penny Mordaunt became the first candidate to publicly announce her intention to run for the next Conservative Party leader, but Johnson and former finance minister Rishi Sunak will be on the ballot next week. Lead potential candidates ahead of time.

Snak, who was Truss’ runner-up in the last leadership contest and has yet to formally declare his candidacy this time, did not speak to reporters as he left his home in London on Saturday.

The prospect of Mr Johnson returning to power is a polarizing issue for many in the Conservative Party, which has sacked four prime ministers in six years and is deeply divided.

For some Conservative MPs, Johnson is a voter who can appeal across the country not just for fame but for his energetic optimism.

To others he is a toxic person and the problem is that the dozens of lawmakers who abandoned him now believe he can unite the party and turn its faltering fortunes around. It is whether or not you can convince yourself that you are a person.

“Death Spiral”

Former Home Affairs Minister Priti Patel on Saturday expressed her support for her former boss, saying she was “authorized to deliver on our elected manifesto and proven track record of making big decisions right.”

But her colleague Andrew Bridgin said he would consider resigning from the parliamentary group if Johnson returned, and was conservative against developing a “personality cult” around the former prime minister. warned the party. Dominic Raab, who served as foreign secretary in Johnson’s administration, said the party risked a “step back” if Mr Johnson returned.

Former Conservative Party leader William Hague said on Friday Johnson’s return was probably the worst idea he had heard in nearly half a century as a party member. said it would lead to a spiral.

If Mr Johnson secures the required number of nominations, he will likely run headlong against Mr Sunak, who resigned as finance minister in July, arguing that his former boss was unable to make tough decisions.

According to media reports, Sunak is the first mentor candidate to reach the threshold of 100 nominations to enter the contest before Monday’s deadline.

Mr Johnson now has about half the necessary support and is currently under investigation by the Congressional Privileges Committee to establish whether he lied to the House about his lockdown-breaking party. increase. Ministers are expected to resign if they are found to have deliberately deceived parliament.

The contest to become Britain’s fourth prime minister in four years has been accelerated to just one week. Under the rules, only three candidates will reach lawmakers’ first ballot on Monday afternoon, with the final two going to party members’ votes by next Friday.

Reporting by Andrew MacAskill. Additional reporting by Henry Nichols.Edited by Toby Chopra, Mike Harrison and Christina Fincher

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