Boris Johnson one of the favourites to be next Conservative leader

Boris Johnson is among the bookies' favourites to become the next Conservative Party leader.

The former prime minister currently has a 6/1 (14%) chance of leading the Tories again, according to betting website Paddy Power.

Only Kemi Badenoch at 11/2 (15%) and Rishi Sunak at 4/1 (20%) - both of whom lost to Truss in the Conservative leadership contest - have better odds.

William Hill has given similar odds, with Johnson, Badenoch and Michael Gove all tied at 7/1 (12%) and Sunak leading on 4/1 (20%).

According to Oddschecker.com, which compares odds and offers from the UK's leading bookmakers, Johnson has a 10/1 (9%) chance of becoming the next PM after Truss.

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This is despite being forced to stand down in July as he faced an exodus of members from his own government over his handling of the Chris Pincher groping allegations.

Johnson's administration faced a number of scandals beforehand, most notably that illegal parties were being held in Downing Street and Whitehall while the public were being urged to socially distance to curb the COVID pandemic.

But still, he appears to have a shot at being welcomed back as leader, while punters are already betting on how long Truss has left in office.

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William Hill says the chances of her leaving the role are 7/2 (22%) for this year and 5/4 (44%) for 2023. The site says she only has a 2/1 (33%) chance of being the prime minister after the next general election.

The latest polling makes for disastrous reading for the Conservative Party.

Recent analysis conducted by Ipsos showed only 20% of the public thought Truss was doing a good job, with the Labour party leading on a number of key issues.

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Last week Labour opened up a 33-point lead over the Tories, indicating an election landslide for Keir Starmer's party, as the government tries to contain the fallout of its controversial "mini-budget".

Truss' administration has its feet to the fire after chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng's £45 billion in tax cuts - funded by borrowing and primarily benefiting the wealthy - sent the value of the pound plunging, potentially exacerbating already spiralling inflation.

Tory peer Lord Cruddas of Shoreditch has already started a campaign to get Johnson back into Number 10 to see off an internal power struggle within the party.

He suggested there is a “conspiracy” by a backbench Conservative 1922 Committee “cabal” intent on installing Sunak in Downing Street, suggesting the best way to keep him out of power is to let Johnson take the reins again.

Lord Jonathan Marland, who ran Johnson's 2008 London mayoral campaign, has previously said there is a "distinct possibility" that his friend could return as prime minister.

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Asked about the prospect, the Tory peer said: "I think there's a distinct possibility. The scenario could be that we lose the next election, we'll be looking for a leader who can win elections and of course Boris has that.

"As he said to me the other day, he wants to go and put hay in the loft - in other words, build up his bank balance so that he can afford to pay for the lifestyle that he has created.

"And I think once he's done that, if he is still a Member of Parliament and hasn't been found to have behaved incorrectly by the standards committee, which is a possibility, he does have that opportunity."

Johnson himself fuelled speculation of a comeback in his farewell address in front of No 10 in early September.

In his speech, the classics scholar mentioned 5th century BC Roman statesman Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, who later returned to serve a second term.

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