Liz Truss has resigned. Part 3: The Return of the King?

[sunnydaytoday0]

Continuation from last thread.

By Monday we could have a new prime minister, and by next Friday at the latest.

Will Sunak win this time, or could Johnson get his old job back? Would the Tory members once again go against the wishes of the MPs?

And yes I think Johnson sees himself as some sort of world king..

Michael Savage (Observer)
I hear that Kemi Badenoch may be about to back Rishi Sunak. Badenoch is close to Gove, who has not yet declared.

More whataboutery and thread diversion.

Lucy Fisher AT LOS_Fisher
Tory MP in the Sunak campaign casts doubt on assertion that Johnson has reached 100 backers.

MP says: ‘Plucking numbers from thin air about who’s backing you in order to meet the Sunday newspaper deadline shows just how desperate Boris is to save face’

The same Tory MP claims the Sunak camp has today ‘been approached by a couple of declared Boris supporting MPs who are clearly now wobbling’.

Let’s see if any actual switchers (to/from any camp) materialise… The risk for an MP is that it leaves them looking somewhat ridiculous

A pro-Sunak Tory MP now publicly suggests the Johnson campaign is bluffing on numbers

Worth pointing out some may back one candidate publicly because its what their constituency members want. But what they do in the ballot booth is different.

Equally you might be one of the anonymous who switch - but it means you don't get harassed to death by campaign teams.

Moreover, why are so many too embarrassed to publicly back Johnson if the rumour is true about him reaching 100? Hardly seems fully committed to his leadership.

Johnson is spending currency he hasn't got. He can't promise cabinet positions, or appointments. He has already put his party through the wringer in Parliament.

So you've got to get past all that to vote for him. And that is, combined with no economic credentials, a huge hurdle. They will also remember his endorsement of Truss.

I expect his declared backers to be red wall MPs, right wing gargoyles who are out of the Cabinet otherwise, and a few who share his shallow view of politics.

Is that what they call conviction politics?

Nick Robinson at bbcnickrobinson
Isn’t the real story about Boris Johnson today that he still doesn’t have 100 MPs prepared to say publicly that they support him; he didn’t get
get the endorsement of the Conservative papers & he hasn’t got the support of old allies like Charles Moore & David Frost ?

How do you control your own party when some of your supporters won't put their name to your campaign to be leader?

What happens if there is a vote for something unpopular? Do you just not turn up?

Penny Mordaunt will back either of them now if it gets her a place at the Cabinet table. She has used her hair well.

Reuters have deleted their tweet of their earlier story.

@Reuters
CORRECTION: Boris Johnson reaches threshold to enter UK leadership race, says ally
We are deleting a tweet that did not cite the source of the claim

David Davis at daviddavismp
I'm backing Rishi Sunak to be the next Prime Minister.

Rishi has the capability, the intellect, and the skills to navigate the many challenges this country is facing.

Kate Ferguson at kateferguson4
This is a big coup for Team Rishi

I understand the deal was done over lunch in Parliament on Tuesday - they dined on baked salmon in the members dining room

Two things.
This is a big name leaver on right of party. One Johnson will definitely had on his wish list.
Secondly. The deal was done Tuesday. Before Truss went. Whilst Johnson was wasting precious internal lobbying time during the parliamentary term time (when he should really be available at Westminster) sunning himself in the Caribbean.

There is a real reveal in that. The extent to which Sunak has been working behind the scenes in the wake of Truss's car crash. But he's actually working. Unlike Johnson.

That's a very interesting update Red.
Sunak clearly read the room.

Johnson missing opportunities because he was on holiday has a certain poetic quality.

This is Groundhog day

I thought we had moved on from all this...

One Johnson will definitely had on his wish list.

After “For the love of God, go”? Deluded doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Johnson doesn't like putting in the hard work for anything

The Johnson camp has released photos of him on the phone. He looks haggard and exhausted.

Geri Scott:
Interesting point raised by Mordaunt-backers to me yesterday, that MPs publicly declaring support for Boris Johnson may be doing so to please their constituents, but could end up backing someone else in private.

Only the proposer and seconder for each candidate will be public.

Jet lag? or too much cake.

Badenoch cones out for Sunak. That’ll really annoy a lot of Boris bots.

Yep.

And its showing up where it counts - for himself - this time around

There have been rumours that Sunak had been on manoeuvers all week, but thats one of the most firm I've seen.

Good. I hope he’s knackered.

When did he say that?

Penny Mordaunt would sell her own brother for a Cabinet seat. Johnson is utterly incapable of leadership. That only leaves Sunak really for the grown-ups to vote for.

Lol, totally forgot about beergate. Feels like a million years ago now. Thanks for the laugh, clav.

Interesting

Kemi Badenoch pledges support for Rishi Sunak
Kemi Badenoch has announced she is supporting Rishi Sunak to replace Liz Truss as prime minister

I’m hoping he’s jet lagged to hell and that the kids are playing up like nobodies business because they’re jet legged too!

Romy is about 10 months old, let’s hope she’s teething too!