Boris Johnson, who was abruptly removed from office as UK prime minister by his own government three months ago, has emerged as the front-runner to succeed Liz Truss
Liz Truss announced her resignation after being forced to abandon the majority of her policy program because it alarmed the financial markets.
The British constitution allows the ruling party to change its leader without calling for new elections, and Mr. Johnson won the 2019 general election.
Even for a politician who has made incredible comebacks before, a second Johnson premiership would be a remarkable reversal.
William Gladstone led the Liberal Party back to power 140 years ago, marking the last occasion someone took the post of prime minister after losing the nomination.
And Mr. Johnson has not yet decided whether or not to stand; this makes his decision far from definite.
Nevertheless, according to his father Stanley, the former prime minister might already be traveling from his vacation in the Dominican Republic to the UK.
Former Mr. Johnson press secretary Will Walden told Sky News that Mr. Johnson is “obviously taking soundings” for a leadership run.
Mr. Johnson concluded his final appearance at Prime Minister’s Questions by saying, “Hasta la vista, baby.”
Only by using another tagline from the Terminator movies, “I’ll be back,” could he have given a stronger indication that he was not yet done.
Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, one of his most devoted admirers, has started a social media campaign to get him back in Downing Street, and hundreds of Conservative MPs have publicly backed him.
Ben Wallace, the defense secretary and a prominent figure in the Conservative party, told the BBC that he was “leaning towards” endorsing Mr. Johnson.
Candidates for the leadership must receive the support of at least 100 Tory MPs by Monday afternoon in order to remain in the running.
