Rishi Sunak’s own Conservative Party deputy chairman, Lee Anderson, now regrets that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson was forced out of office. So too does minister Gareth Bacon, according to The Times, highlighting the Tories’ desperate quest to find some way to turn around their current woes.
One MP told the paper: “There are loads of red wall MPs [elected in Midlands and northern constituencies which historically backed Labour] who would jump at the chance to have Boris back as leader, even among those who called on him to quit.”
The Mail on Sunday added that multiple Tory MPs believe that “bringing back the former Premier is the only way to save the party from an Election wipeout.” These have drawn up what they reportedly crudely refer to as an “Advent Calendar of s**t,” strategically causing new issues for the prime minister every day in a manner that will undermine his administration and force the party to change course.
Just 16 months ago, some of the same MPs were pushing for Johnson to resign. They believed that increasing criticism of his handling of COVID—and, in particular, the heavy focus on his partying during lockdown, dubbed ‘Partygate’—meant his presence at the top of the Conservative Party would bring the whole ship down. Now, they are certain that the non-stop catastrophe which is Sunak’s premiership—tarred by constant failures on migration, as an example, and by high-profile resignations—means matters have got worse still.
There is little indication that Tory MPs believe Johnson could in any way improve the current situation; not least when it comes to immigration—the electorate’s opposition to which he has never understood.
Nor is it certain that, should the opportunity arise, Johnson would go for the top job, at least before the next election. His spokesman said Johnson “is currently writing a book and is supporting the government.”
But what remains clear is that, unless the Conservative Party is blessed by some kind of miracle, or Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour is cursed with a major blow, parliament’s makeup after the next election will be very different to what it is now.
All Tories Want for Christmas Is Boris Back
Boris Johson
Photo: Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.com
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Rishi Sunak’s own Conservative Party deputy chairman, Lee Anderson, now regrets that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson was forced out of office. So too does minister Gareth Bacon, according to The Times, highlighting the Tories’ desperate quest to find some way to turn around their current woes.
One MP told the paper: “There are loads of red wall MPs [elected in Midlands and northern constituencies which historically backed Labour] who would jump at the chance to have Boris back as leader, even among those who called on him to quit.”
The Mail on Sunday added that multiple Tory MPs believe that “bringing back the former Premier is the only way to save the party from an Election wipeout.” These have drawn up what they reportedly crudely refer to as an “Advent Calendar of s**t,” strategically causing new issues for the prime minister every day in a manner that will undermine his administration and force the party to change course.
Just 16 months ago, some of the same MPs were pushing for Johnson to resign. They believed that increasing criticism of his handling of COVID—and, in particular, the heavy focus on his partying during lockdown, dubbed ‘Partygate’—meant his presence at the top of the Conservative Party would bring the whole ship down. Now, they are certain that the non-stop catastrophe which is Sunak’s premiership—tarred by constant failures on migration, as an example, and by high-profile resignations—means matters have got worse still.
There is little indication that Tory MPs believe Johnson could in any way improve the current situation; not least when it comes to immigration—the electorate’s opposition to which he has never understood.
Nor is it certain that, should the opportunity arise, Johnson would go for the top job, at least before the next election. His spokesman said Johnson “is currently writing a book and is supporting the government.”
But what remains clear is that, unless the Conservative Party is blessed by some kind of miracle, or Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour is cursed with a major blow, parliament’s makeup after the next election will be very different to what it is now.
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