Liz Truss resigns as PM after just 45 days in Downing Street
Boris Johnson is “flying back” from a Caribbean holiday and is “taking soundings” about a bid to return to Downing Street, his former press secretary has said, after Liz Truss’s historically quick resignation sparked a fresh Tory leadership race.
He and Rishi Sunak are leading the polls as favourites to replace Liz Truss, who quit after just 44 days in Downing Street having tanked the economy, replaced both her chancellor and home secretary, and seen a near-total collapse of support among Tory MPs.
Mr Johnson was reported to be privately urging MPs to back him as the only candidate who can prevent an electoral wipeout for the Conservatives, and was contacting Mr Sunak – who currently has the public backing of a larger number of colleagues – to “get back together”.
A maximum of three candidates will be able to stand in the leadership contest after Tory party chiefs decided hopefuls needed the support of 100 colleagues to get on the ballot. MPs will vote on the final two candidates before Tory members are given the final say.
