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Daily Record
Politics
Peter Davidson

Boris Johnson 'expected to stand' in Tory leadership race after Liz Truss resigns

Boris Johnson is expected to run to be next Conservative leader and Prime Minister just months after he sensationally quit, it has been reported.

The former Prime Minster, who is currently on holiday in the Caribbean with his wife Carrie, is believed to be "taking soundings" from his fellow MPs about a return.

Speaking to the Record, one Tory MP said of the prospect of Johnson returning: "F****** madness."

Two media outlets are reporting that he could stand to replace Liz Truss who resigned earlier today after just 44 days in Downing Street. Johnson hasn't confirmed if he is standing to take over however many of his allies are already calling for him to stand.

Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Tory 1922 Committee, said he expected the new leader to be in place by Friday, October 28.

During his resignation statement Johnson signalled he could make a return to frontline politics.

He said: "Let me say that I am now like one of those booster rockets that has fulfilled its function and I will now be gently re-entering the atmosphere and splashing down invisibly in some remote and obscure corner of the pacific.

"And like Cincinnatus I am returning to my plough and I will be offering this government nothing but the most fervent support."

Graham Brady was vague about whether one or two candidates would be likely to run for the Conservative Party leadership.

He told reporters: "The party rules say there will be two candidates unless there is only one candidate."

Asked what happens if one candidate drops out, Sir Graham said: "If there is only one candidate, there is only one candidate."

Pressed on whose idea it was to truncate the process into one week, he said: "I think it's a matter on which there is a pretty broad consensus".

Sir Graham also said: "It certainly is not the circumstances I would wish to see."

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