Tory leadership race latest LIVE: Johnson supporters claim he has ‘100 MP backers’ but Sunak remains ahead

Boris Johnson allegedly has 100 backers and may run for the leadership, sources have claimed.

While unconfirmed, the BBC’s Chris Mason said: “I’m told Boris Johnson now has more than 100 backers and so could be on the ballot if he chooses to be.”

However, this was soon followed with messages from some MPs labelling the news as “hogwash” and “absolute garbage”.

Tory MP Sir James Duddrige has also claimed the former Prime Minister has reached the threshold, but again, the names have not been made public.

As of 5.30pm, Mr Johnson had 50 MPs officially who have publicly supported him, according to Sky News. In contrast, Rishi Sunak had 110 and has therefore exceeded the needed threshold of support - Penny Mordaunt stands on 22.

Following Liz Truss’s resignation, the former Prime Minister returned to the UK after breaking off a holiday in the Dominican Republic on Thursday but he is yet to formally declare whether he will run or not.

Political instability sees UK economic outlook downgraded by ratings agency

Saturday 22 October 2022 07:37 , Sami Quadri

The UK’s economic outlook has been downgraded from “stable” to “negative” by the ratings agency Moody’s due to political instability and high inflation.

In a report published on Friday night, Moody’s said the change in outlook was driven by “heightened unpredictability in policymaking amid weaker growth prospects and high inflation” and “risks to the UK’s debt affordability from likely higher borrowing and risk of a sustained weakening in policy credibility”.

Rating agencies rate a country on the strength of its economy and provide governments with a score based on the likelihood that they will be able to pay back debt.

The rating affects how much it costs governments to borrow money in the international financial markets.

According to the agency, an outlook period “typically lasts 12-18 months”.

Rishi Sunak ‘first contender to pass threshold of 100 Tory MPs’

Saturday 22 October 2022 07:41 , Sami Quadri

Rishi Sunak is believed to have become the first Conservative leadership candidate to secure the backing of 100 MPs, shoring up sufficient support to be on the ballot for Monday’s vote.

On Friday night the former chancellor’s supporters said he had amassed the necessary numbers to reach the threshold.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson was lagging behind, as was Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt who became the first to confirm her candidacy to replace Liz Truss as Prime Minister.

But Mr Johnson has told allies he is “up for it” and is reportedly flying back from his holiday in the Dominican Republic to enter the race and attempt an extraordinary comeback.

Sky News photographed the ex-PM and his wife Carrie Johnson on an overnight British Airways flight back from the Dominican Republic with their children and said the MP received “one or two boos” as he boarded.

There is speculation among backers of the old Downing Street neighbours that they could strike a deal to stand together, but this would need them both to bury a lot of rancour.

Mr Sunak, who came second against Ms Truss in the last race six weeks ago, has around 82 public declarations, far ahead Mr Johnson’s 48, while Ms Mordaunt struggles on 18.

But sources in the former chancellor’s camp say he has won the backing of 100 colleagues to make it to the next stage.

Watch: Liz Truss leaving Downing Street one day after her resignation

Saturday 22 October 2022 07:44 , Sami Quadri

Sir Malcolm Rifkind backs Sunak because he is ‘by far the best candidate’

Saturday 22 October 2022 08:22 , Sami Quadri

Former Tory MP and Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind said he backed Rishi Sunak because he is “by far the best” of the contenders available.

He told Times Radio: “I don’t know Rishi Sunak. I’ve not met him personally. So I’m not simply an automatic adherent.

“But what I do know is that during the Truss/Sunak campaign, one of the reasons Sunak lost probably was because he was brave enough to put the public interest (first) and say ‘I cannot support tax cuts unless they’re properly funded, and not while the economy’s in a mess’ and he said that and it probably cost him more votes than it gained him. But he’s been proven 100% right.

“So as a citizen affected by the way the economy may develop over the next few months, then on the people available, he is by far the best.”

Labour MP says British public want to ‘press reset button’

Saturday 22 October 2022 08:24 , Sami Quadri

Chris Bryant, a Labour MP for Rhondda and chairman of the Commons Committee on Standards, said that he believes the public want a general election to “press the reset button.”

Mr Bryant was part of the cross-party Privileges Committee which is currently investigating whether Boris Johnson deliberately misled Parliament about the parties held in Number 10. However, he withdrew himself from the committee’s inquiry as he had already publicly condemned Mr Johnson’s behaviour.

When asked about his opinion of Mr Johnson returning to high office, he said: “He’s disgraced. I mean, look, I’m a Labour MP, I don’t fancy any of the three of them. I think we’ve got to a stage now where the people of this country think the only way you can press the reset button is to have a general election.

“Penny Mordaunt voted in Cabinet or allowed in Cabinet, never said a word in Cabinet against the whole of the mini-budget that led to the economic crash that we’ve had.

“Rishi Sunak backs Boris Johnson all the way up until the very last moment, despite all the lies and of course was himself involved in ‘partygate’ and Boris Johnson is a disgraced prime minister. The biggest problem for Boris if he does get elected as leader, apart from I suspect that quite a few Conservative MPs will either cross the floor or abandon support for him.

“Frankly, as I think William Hague said, he’s unfit for office. His biggest problem is, he will be spending probably the first two months of his of his second premiership, entirely focused on the privileges inquiry, and may, at the end of it, be found to have been in contempt of Parliament, suspended from the House of Commons and potentially facing a by-election in a seat which he would lose.”

Rishi Sunak gains more support

Saturday 22 October 2022 08:24 , Bill Mcloughlin

Caroline Nokes, MP for Romsey and Southampton has announced she will be backing Rishi Sunak in the leadership race. She had previously supported Penny Mordaunt over the summer.

She is joined by Selaine Saxby, MP for North Devon, who said Mr Sunak is the only person “who can effectively manage the economy.”

Boris Johnson is a ‘tried and tested leader'

Saturday 22 October 2022 08:52 , Sami Quadri

Boris Johnson is “a tried and tested leader” and it is time that the is back in power, a Conservative MP has said.

Andrew Stephenson said there is lots of support from the public for Mr Johnson to return as prime minister and that all MPs will have to work to improve divisions within the party.

He told BBC Breakfast: “It will be the challenge for whoever is leader of the party to unite the party. I think it is important that all MPs respect the result of this election and unite behind our new leader.

“I think what we have seen in the last few days is some of the MPs who resigned and called for Boris to go at the start of the summer have now said they would like to see him put himself forward. They’ve admitted they were wrong. I know that many others are waiting for him to make a decision before they go public.

“I think Boris is someone with a proven track record who delivered Brexit, he delivered the fastest vaccine rollout in Europe. He ensured this country led the international coalition against (Vladimir) Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

“I believe he is a tried-and-tested leader and it is time to bring back Boris.”

Pictured: Rishi Sunak leaving his home in London

Saturday 22 October 2022 09:04 , Sami Quadri

Rishi will unite party, says Dominic Raab

Saturday 22 October 2022 09:24 , Sami Quadri

Former chancellor Rishi Sunak already appears to have enough nominations to be a serious contender in the Conservative Party leadership election, Dominic Raab has said.

Mr Raab, who was deputy prime minister in Boris Johnson’s government, told BBC Breakfast: “I am very confident he will stand and he has already through the public declarations that have been tallied up broken through the 100 threshold for nominations.”

He added: “I think the critical issue here is going to be the economy.

“Rishi had the right plan in the summer and I think it is the right plan now.

“I think he is the best placed candidate to provide some stability, to provide confidence for the millions of workers and businesses up and down the country – but I also think he is the right candidate to bring the party together with a government of all of the talents to just relentlessly deliver for the British people whether it is on the cost of living, crime, schools or NHS.”

'Difficult to see’ how Boris Johnson could be PM after partygate, Raab says

Saturday 22 October 2022 09:29 , Sami Quadri

It is “difficult to see” how Boris Johnson could become prime minister again following the controversy over partygate, former deputy PM Dominic Raab has said.

Speaking to Sky News this morning, Mr Raab said he was “confident” Mr Sunak would run in the Tory leadership race and was the “standout candidate” among the field.

Mr Raab said that while he is “fond” of Boris Johnson and “respected him hugely”, the issues surrounding partygate could leave him “distracted”.

He said: “The big challenge for Boris is within days of a new prime minister being announced next Friday, the committee on standards and privileges is going to start taking testimony on partygate. That’s going to involve witnesses.

“It will I assume have to involve him giving oral evidence and we need a prime minister that is focused relentlessly and consistently with a laser-like focus on the issues facing the country and I think it’s very difficult to see how Boris could be prime minister if he is absorbed and distracted by all of that.

“And I say that as someone who thinks he could make a return to frontline politics and who has backed him and is personally very found him.”

Mr Raab added that in the current climate it was important the party went forward and “not back to the groundhog day of partygate again.”

Robert Largan becomes 100th Tory MP to publicly back Sunak

Saturday 22 October 2022 09:31 , Sami Quadri

‘If Boris Johnson were to be elected, God help us,’ says senior MP

Saturday 22 October 2022 10:08 , Bill Mcloughlin

Boris Johnson arrives back in UK

Saturday 22 October 2022 10:26 , Sami Quadri

Former prime minister Boris Johnson has reportedly arrived back in the UK.

Mr Johnson, whose plane touched down at Gatwick Airport, had been on holiday in the Dominican Republic but has returned after telling an ally that he will run to lead the country again.

The flight was being tracked by around 7,000 users on the FlightRadar24 website.

Tory MP David Mundell backs Sunak

Saturday 22 October 2022 10:46 , Sami Quadri

Priti Patel declares support for Boris Johnson

Saturday 22 October 2022 10:49 , Sami Quadri

Former home secretary Priti Patel said she was backing Boris Johnson in the leadership race because he had a “proven track record”.

She tweeted: “Boris has the mandate to deliver our elected manifesto and a proven track record getting the big decisions right. I’m backing him in the leadership contest.”

Penny Mordaunt makes case for leadership bid

Saturday 22 October 2022 11:34 , Sami Quadri

Leadership hopeful Penny Mordaunt said the country faced “grave” challenges as she made her case for a “fresh start”.

She tweeted: “The challenges facing the country are grave. Only with a fresh start, competent leadership, and a relentless focus on the people of the UK, can we address these issues head on.”

Pictured: Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrives at Gatwick Airport

Saturday 22 October 2022 11:35 , Sami Quadri

Tory MP Paul Howell backs Rishi

Saturday 22 October 2022 12:13 , Sami Quadri

Conservative MP for Sedgefield Paul Howell announced his backing for Rishi Sunak.

Mr Howell tweeted: “As you may be aware, in the previous leadership race I supported @RishiSunak to be our next prime minister.

“Having worked with Rishi up close, I have seen first-hand all that he has done for the Sedgefield constituency, and the North East more broadly.”

Former Brexit minister Lord Frost backs Rishi Sunak

Saturday 22 October 2022 12:35 , Bill Mcloughlin

Support for Sunak continues to grow

Saturday 22 October 2022 13:03 , Bill Mcloughlin

David Johnston has become the latest Tory MP to announce his support for Rishi Sunak.

Former health secretary says Sunak is 'best placed' to address country's economic challenges

Saturday 22 October 2022 13:36 , Sami Quadri

Nadine Dorries says Boris Johnson is ‘one person Labour fear most'

Saturday 22 October 2022 14:01 , Sami Quadri

Boris Johnson has more than 100 backers, according to reports

Saturday 22 October 2022 15:08 , Sami Quadri

Boris Johnson has secured the support of more than 100 Conservative MPs, reports claim.

Sources told the BBC that the former prime minister has passed the threshold of 100 names required to get on the ballot paper.

Stanley Johnson predicts his son will beat Rishi Sunak in race to become prime minister

Saturday 22 October 2022 15:15 , Sami Quadri

Boris Johnson’s father Stanley Johnson has predicted that his son will put his name forward and beat Rishi Sunak in a head-to-head contest.

Speaking to GB news on Saturday, Stanley said: “I think he will put his name forward, and I think he will beat Rishi Sunak in a head to head.

“And I want to say, and I’m now going to reveal this for the first time, when I get my vote, my electronic password, I will be voting for Boris because I think he will do the things I care about, Europe, environment, peace in our time, and net zero.”

Tory MP says Boris has more than 100 backers

Saturday 22 October 2022 15:17 , Sami Quadri

Tory MP Sir James Duddridge has claimed Boris Johnson has the support he needed were he to announce he was standing in the leadership race.

He tweeted: “New – Boris Johnson has more than 100 backers.”

Health minister Robert Jenrick says ‘now is not the time’ for Boris return

Saturday 22 October 2022 16:00 , Sami Quadri

Tory MP backs Boris after phone conversation

Saturday 22 October 2022 16:04 , Sami Quadri

Lee Anderson, Tory MP for Ashfield, said Boris Johnson has his support after the former prime minister called him this afternoon.

In a post on Facebook which appeared to reference the slogan “Bring Back Boris”, Mr Anderson said: “My Choice. Boris Johnson just called me. We have had a long chat about everything past and present.

“My inbox is full of BBB. I am drawing a line under it. Boris has my support.”

Trade minister Greg Hands backs Rishi as he labels Boris the ‘wrong choice’

Saturday 22 October 2022 16:08 , Sami Quadri

Trade minister Greg Hands said he is backing Rishi Sunak to be the next prime minister, as he labelled Boris Johnson the “wrong choice”.

In a string of tweets, Mr Hands said: “I have no doubt at all that the best option is Rishi Sunak. I have worked closely with him in government.

“He had the right policies in the summer, and he has the right policies now. He is the right person to get the UK through the tough economic times and therefore for us to have a good chance at the next election.”

“I like Boris, but bringing him back would be retrograde. Why?

“What finally finished Boris on 7th July wasn’t the “parties” or even the Privileges Committee – it was that he wasn’t able to form a Government. 68 members of the Govt had resigned in 24 hours – and more were coming. How could any of those 68 now serve, just weeks after?”

Tory MP casts doubt on whether Boris has more than 100 backers

Saturday 22 October 2022 16:37 , Anthony France

Rishi Sunak supporter Richard Holden cast doubt on whether Boris Johnson has enough support from MPs to get on the leadership ballot.

In response to a reporter pointing out the former prime minister did not have 100 publicly declared backers, the North West Durham MP said: “It’s because they don’t exist.”

Not the right time for Johnson to return, says Jenrick

Saturday 22 October 2022 17:57 , Anthony France

Rishi Sunak backer Robert Jenrick told followers it was “not the right time” for Boris Johnson’ return.

Johnson’s former housing secretary said while “there may be another time for Boris.. the stakes could not be higher” for the UK.

Sunak was the best person to provide “serious, competent leadership” added Jenrick.

"We should not forget that 43 days ago the party removed Boris Johnson as serious issues engulfed his premiership. Some of these remain unresolved.”

Blow for Boris as Kemi Badenoch backs Rishi Sunak

Saturday 22 October 2022 18:25 , Anthony France

International trade secretary Kemi Badenoch is backing Rishi Sunak in a major blow for former MP Boris Johnson.

She told the Sunday Times: “Mrs Thatcher won the public’s trust and three elections in a row by making it about us, not about her. We need someone who can do the same. I believe that person is Rishi Sunak.”

Goodnight from all of us this evening

Saturday 22 October 2022 19:18 , Anthony France

That’s it from the Standard’s political live blog for tonight. Our teams will be back early on Sunday morning.