🔴 Boris Johnson's former deputy Dominic Raab warns conduct probe could derail ex-PM's comeback
Groundhog DayAppearing on the broadcast round on Saturday morning, Mr Raab said “we cannot go backwards” and pointed out Mr Johnson faces a probe into allegations he misled Parliament over Partygate.programme: “I stood by Boris, I’ve got a lot of respect for him. I think he can make a return to frontline politics and I like him personally.
The ex-minister was once one of Mr Johnson’s closest Cabinet colleagues – even stepping in to cover when the former PM was in intensive care with Covid-19. “I think the country needs a prime minister that is focused 100 per cent on them. I just don’t see as a practical matter that that can be Boris if he is then dealing with all of those issues.
When asked what had changed, Mr Stephenson said: “Well, clearly what’s changed is some of my colleagues who said they had no faith in him and urged him to resign previously, have now gone on record urging him to put his name forward. Mr Sunak, who came second against Ms Truss in the last race six weeks ago, already has support from 100 MPs, while more than 50 are supporting Mr Johnson. A third candidate in the race, Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, is currently ailing on 25 nominations.