Johnson may be dominating talk about Tory leadership race but win is a long way off | Politics News

For a man who, until recently, was thousands of miles away on a Caribbean island (and still has not taken his hat off), it is extraordinary that Boris Johnson’s name has dominated this leadership race. .

Such is the power of feeling around the former Prime Minister: love him or hate him, we can’t stop talking about him.

A flash of the blonde, in a blurry photograph taken at the back of the plane, and suddenly the vision of a new Johnson era becomes very real.

‘Hard to see’ how Johnson could become Prime Minister – latest politics

But it is very easy to be swept away.

The threshold of 100 MPs is high, and there is no clear path for the former prime minister.

Mr Johnson “never really had more than 60/65 core loyal supporters”, in the words of former communications director Will Walden.

He said the challenge for the former prime minister would be to “generate enough momentum” to see ambitious MPs behind him.

Mr Johnson’s allies certainly believe he can do it; If he passes the first hurdle, he might be the most popular among the members.

However, Team Sunak still has hopes of being crowned on Monday.

The former prime minister is going ahead and has voted, according to Analysis of the sky.

Gentleman’s deal?

Today’s backing from Lord Frost, who previously supported Liz Truss and is a close ally of Mr Johnson, is a big boost.

Lord Frost, the former Brexit negotiator, has swayed the party’s right and could win the key votes Mr Johnson needs if he gets the ballot.

And what is being said about a gentleman’s deal between Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak?

From the conversations I’ve had, it seems unlikely. I understand there is no conversation between the two men, nor are there any plans for one.

One Sunak supporter said any deal would be “nonsense”, and allies of both said neither was settling for anything but top work.

Read more:
Sunak tops 100 public nominations
Who is Penny Mordaunt? Former magician’s assistant hopes for victory

Don’t forget, as things stand, there’s only one official contender in the race: Penny Mordaunt.

In the summer, she won 105 votes in the final round and a similar victory this time will see her on the ballot.

Her supporters say things can change quickly, but she has a long way to go right now, leaving many to ponder the prospect of Boris v Rishi.

It was an extraordinary thought: the former prime minister against the former prime minister who initiated his downfall.

One MP told me he felt “sick” thinking the former prime minister might come back, and another MP texted: “Anyone but Rishi.”

What is clear is that there is no clear unified candidate and there is no way to know for sure what will happen in the next few days.