UK POLITICAL CRISIS: JOHNSON IS “UP FOR IT” “#READY4RISHI”

Sat 22 October 2022:

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson returned to Britain on Saturday after cutting short a Caribbean vacation to enter the race to succeed Liz Truss as Conservative leader.

It would be an audacious return to power for Johnson, who only left office early last month after dozens of resignations from his government due to a slew of scandals.

Johnson has said nothing publicly about a bid for his old job, has received the support of dozens of Conservative lawmakers but needs to secure 100 nominations to be considered.

The trade minister James Duddridge said on Friday Johnson told him he is “up for it” and the former leader will fly back to Britain on Saturday.

Former defence 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.

Johnson is a vote winner for some Conservative lawmakers, able to appeal across the country not only with his celebrity but also with his brand of energetic optimism.

Others regard Johnson as a toxic figure, and the question is whether he can persuade the dozens of lawmakers who have abandoned him that he is now the person who can unite the party and turn its fortunes around.

Rishi Sunak

Supporters of Sunak, who served as chancellor under Johnson, said on Friday night he had received nominations from 100 Tory MPs to pass the threshold required way ahead of Monday’s deadline. There was no word from Sunak, who has yet to publicly declare his candidacy.

“Honoured to be the 100th Tory MP to support #Ready4Rishi,” senior backbencher Tobias Ellwood tweeted, as other backers of Sunak also said he had crossed the barrier.

Sunak will automatically become party leader and prime minister if his opponents fail also to win 100 nominations from their fellow Tory MPs.

Security minister Tom Tugendhat, who ran for the leadership himself after Johnson was toppled in July, also endorsed Sunak: “We need economic stability. That’s why I am backing Rishi Sunak,” he said on Twitter.

We need economic stability. That’s why I’m backing @RishiSunak. pic.twitter.com/54gcri0lZi

— Tom Tugendhat (@TomTugendhat) October 21, 2022

Penny Mordaunt

Penny Mordaunt, the leader of the House of Commons and a former defence secretary, was the first to formally declare her candidacy on Friday. It would be her second bid for the party’s leadership after losing in the fifth round to Sunak and Truss.

“I’ve been encouraged by support from colleagues who want a fresh start, a united party and leadership in the national interest,” she said on Twitter announcing her bid.

I’ve been encouraged by support from colleagues who want a fresh start, a united party and leadership in the national interest.

I’m running to be the leader of the Conservative Party and your Prime Minister – to unite our country, deliver our pledges and win the next GE.#PM4PM pic.twitter.com/MM0NTHJ5lH

— Penny Mordaunt (@PennyMordaunt) October 21, 2022

However, YouGov polling found that three in five voters now want an early general election, in line with opposition party demands, as Britons struggle with a worsening cost-of-living crisis.

Labour and other parties argue that only an election can end the months of political chaos that have erupted since Johnson was forced out following a string of personal and political scandals.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

TWITTER (CLICK HERE)
https://twitter.com/IpIndependent