Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has the support he needs to make a run for a comeback, it has been reported. This afternoon the BBC's political editor, Chris Mason, and an MP said the threshold had been reached.
Mr Johnson, who was ousted from Downing Street less than two months ago, now has the 100 backers among Conservative MPs needed to take part in the race, said Mr Mason. He is reportedly considering the move, but has not yet confirmed whether he will take part.
In an accelerated race to replace Liz Truss, who resigned on Thursday, any MP wishing to be considered as her replacement must have the backing of at least 100 Tory MPs by 2pm on Monday. That means a maximum of three candidates will be put forward to a vote. The new PM is due to be confirmed by next Friday.
Tory MP Sir James Duddridge has also claimed Mr 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."
According to the BBC, the number of MPs publicly backing Mr Johnson stood at 49 on Saturday afternoon. There is reportedly scepticism that the threshold has been reached.
Mr Johnson returned to the UK from the Caribbean this morning. His father, Stanley, 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."
