Boris Johnson arrives back in the UK as speculation former PM could enter Tory leadership race mounts | Politics News

Boris Johnson has returned to the UK as speculation mounts that the former prime minister will join the Tory leadership race.

Mr. Johnson participated holiday in the Dominican Republic but flew home after Liz Truss’ dramatic resignation on Thursday.

The Conservatives have one week to choose a new leader and prime minister.

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Mr Johnson flew into Gatwick Airport on an economic trip with his wife and children and had a “mixed reaction” when he and his family boarded the plane before everyone else, according to our US correspondent Mark Stone .

He said some passengers looked “a bit bewildered” and there were some boos.

The flight was watched by about 7,000 people through the website FlightRadar24.

Mr Johnson waved to the media after landing at Gatwick Airport and was led quickly by security through the VIP terminal.

He was then loaded onto a Range Rover that took him out of the airport.

Mr Johnson formally stepped down six weeks ago following a series of scandals and mass resignations among his ministers but remains popular with some Tory MPs and party members.

Three cabinet ministers said they would support Mr Johnson in the run-up: Jacob Rees-Mogg, business secretary, Ben Wallace, defense secretary and Simon Clarke, promotion secretary.

Mr Rees-Mogg was the first to declare himself a former prime minister, posting on social media: “I’m supporting Boris #BorisorBust.”

After knocking himself out of the race, Mr Wallace said he was “leaning in favor of Boris Johnson”.

He warned that colleagues “must focus” on who will bring unity and possibly win the next election.

Tory MPs wishing to enter the race must secure the support of 100 MPs by 2pm on Monday.

However, Mr Johnson remains a divisive figure and some Conservative MPs have threatened to withdraw the party’s whip if he returns.

Jesse Norman, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, said the selection of Mr Johnson as Conservative leader would be “absolutely catastrophic”.

Sir Roger Gale, the senior curator, reminded voters in a tweet that the former prime minister was still being investigated by the Commons privilege committee for potentially misleading House versus partygate.

Sir Roger told Times Radio that, if Mr Johnson was re-elected prime minister, he would give up the whip and stand for independence.

Asked about Mr Johnson’s chances of a second run, a cabinet minister told Sky News political editor Beth Rigby: “I expect him to be 100.

“Even those who resigned from his government yesterday were on the rooftop telling colleagues that they would support him and members would certainly support.”

A friend of Mr Johnson also told Sky News it was “likely” he would stand.