Rishi Sunak has surged ahead in the lightning-quick race to find Britain’s next PM – but could be scuppered by Caribbean lazybones Boris Johnson.
A friend of the ex-PM told the Mirror he had been messaging supporters from his beach holiday in the Dominican Republic confirming a comeback bid.
Despite Mr Johnson facing a hearing over his Partygate ‘lies’ within weeks, the friend said: “He’s WhatsApping MPs saying ‘I’m flying back, we’re going to do this, I’m up for it’.”
That could tear the Tory party apart. Ex-leader William Hague warned it could plunge the Tories into a “death spiral” adding: “It’s possibly the worst idea I’ve heard of in the 46 years.”
Penny Mordaunt – who missed out on the final ballot by just eight MPs in July – was the first to formally declare on Friday, vowing to “unite our country” in the “national interest”.
But she struggled to get early backers, sitting on just over 20 on Friday night while Rishi Sunak edged close to the 100 he needed to get on the ballot. Boris Johnson had more than 50.
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Candidates need 100 MP nominations each by 2pm on Monday to get on the ballot paper.
Only a maximum of three MPs will be able to get through. If all three do so, they will be knocked down to two who go to a vote of party members before Friday.
By 7pm on Friday Boris Johnson was backed by four Cabinet ministers – Jacob Rees-Mogg, Simon Clarke, Alok Sharma and Ben Wallace, who ruled himself out.
In a boost to Mr Sunak’s campaign, he was endorsed by former Cabinet minister Sajid Javid and ex-veterans minister Johnny Mercer.
Mr Mercer previously backed Boris Johnson but told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme: “I just don’t think I cannot put myself through that again.
“I don’t think I can ask my constituents to. He has got amazing qualities, but it is now time for serious, competent government. The country is in a dire situation.”
More declarations are due over the weekend, including Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak who had not formally declared by 7pm on Friday.
A friend of Boris Johnson said the ex-PM’s chances rested on what right-wingers like Suella Braverman and Kemi Badenoch – undeclared on Friday night – decided to do.
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They said: “He’s going to get to 100. I think a lot of the issue will be who the right falls behind.
“It feels like they are not going to get to 100. If not, I think a lot of the right-wing vote will end up going to Boris.”
Labour’s Rachel Reeves said the keys to No10 should not be handed around in a game of “pass-the-parcel” as calls grow for a general election.
And the Tories have sunk to their lowest poll rating in history as they attempt to pick a new PM without giving the public a say.
So who is backing who in the Tory leadership election?
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