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Boris Johnson ‘plans to run for PM’ as Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt set to fight it out for No10
20 October 2022, 15:25 | Updated: 20 October 2022, 16:49
Boris Johnson is believed to be considering a run for PM after Liz Truss quit after just six weeks in the job.
Mr Johnson, who was forced out of Downing Street in the summer, is planning to stand as he thinks it would be ‘in the national interest,’ according to the Times.
The latest odds for the next conservative leader this afternoon were: Rishi Sunak: 6/4; Penny Mordaunt: 4/1; Jeremy Hunt: 8/1; Ben Wallace: 10/1; and Boris Johnson at 13/1.
Other predicted runners and riders for the leadership include: Kemi Badenoch: 23/1 Michael Gove: 33/1 Theresa May: 33/1 and Suella Braverman: 40/1.
Government minister Sir James Duddridge said it was time for a comeback by Boris Johnson.
Tweeting with the hashtag #bringbackboris, he said: "I hope you enjoyed your holiday boss. Time to come back. Few issues at the office that need addressing."
Read more: Liz Truss quits after 45 days making her the shortest serving PM in history
Read more: Penny Mordaunt, Rishi Sunak or Boris Johnson: Who could replace Liz Truss?
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Sir James had served as a parliamentary private secretary to Mr Johnson when he was in No 10.
According to a poll out this week, the majority of Tory members want Boris to replace Ms Truss.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: "Liz Truss trashed our economy and before her Boris Johnson failed our country.
"The Conservatives have shown time and time again that they are not fit to govern our great country.
"We don't need another Conservative prime minister lurching from crisis to crisis, letting the British people down, increasing their mortgages, not tackling the economic problems.
"The only way we are going to sort this out is if the Conservative MPs for once do their patriotic duty and work with the opposition to get the general election our country needs to let the British people have their say."