Boris Johnson reckons he might swoop in to rescue Tories when Reform ‘self-destructs’

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson is waiting for Nigel Farage’s Reform party to slip up, so he can swoop in and collect the advances made by the right wing group, according to close sources

Boris ‘Bozo’ Johnson reckons he could swoop in to save the Tories when Reform “self-destructs” before the next election, his allies claim.

The ex-PM’s pals are touting the idea of him making a dramatic comeback following the Conservative Party’s local election drubbing, which saw them lose 676 seats and drop to 17% in opinion polls.

Fed-up activists are talking up Bozo’s chances of a return after a poll last week found he was the only potential leader under whom the party would poll higher than Nigel Farage’s Reform party.

An ally said: “Boris is convinced that the wheels will come off the Reform bandwagon within three years – that they will be found wanting in the areas where they have won power, and voters will tire of all the fruitcakes and loonies they have in their ranks.

“Then he would come back as leader, although the exact mechanism for that is unclear.”

Luke Tryl, author of the recent poll, said: “As the Conservatives grapple with their survival, it does seem Boris Johnson might be part of the answer.”

Bozo quit as PM in 2022 following a string of scandals including Partygate and resigned as an MP a year later.

A spokesman for the former prime minister said: “As Boris said this week, he is strongly supporting Kemi Badenoch and campaigning for Ukrainian victory.”

Meanwhile, Bozo’s ex-adviser Dominic ‘Knobo’ Cummings reportedly held talks with Labour MPs opposed to Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.

A Labour source said h “has analysed the collapse of the two-party system and the ways in which the political system can be refigured”.

Elsewhere, cabinet ministers are expecting a partial U-turn by the under-fire Chancellor on winter fuel payment cuts.

They reckon Rachel Reeves will “bow to pressure” and raise the £11,500 threshold to “save her job”.

A cabinet minister, who wished to remain nameless, said: “I think Rachel might ultimately bow to pressure to save her job. My best guess is they will do a partial reversal.”

Another minister said: “Rachel is not as intransigent as people think. She is pragmatic.”