Boris Johnson quit with a furious resignation statement that left open the threat of a return. But now unencumbered by the duties of parliamentary life, what lies ahead for the former prime minister?
Another lap of the lucrative speaking circuit
Johnson has already proved that despite the manner of his departure from office and the opprobrium heaped upon him by some of his own MPs, he can still command hefty fees from crypto bros, banks and businesses for one of his idiosyncratic speeches. He has already earned in the region of £5m since standing down as prime minister. Quitting parliament not only allows him to maintain his reputation as a winner among potential paymasters, it also means he will no longer have to declare his earnings.
Likelihood: 5/5
A swift return in a byelection
Rumours were flying about in Westminster on Friday night that he could attempt an immediate return to the Commons in the safe Mid Bedfordshire seat vacated by Nadine Dorries, who happens to be his most vehement supporter. In reality, the unwillingness of Conservative Campaign Headquarters to let it happen – combined with the prospect of a humiliating loss – make this an unlikely next step.
Likelihood: 1/5
A return before the election
There is no doubt Johnson wants his audience to believe that he has not vacated the political stage; he said he was simply leaving Westminster “for now”. He has also made no secret of wanting to return, Churchill-style, as leader. But is there a way back before the next election? There will certainly be a few safe seats on offer and local associations keen to have him. But that would require the acquiescence of party high command. It would also require him to take on the Tory crown in opposition – a thankless task that even his allies struggle to picture.
Likelihood: 2/5
Writing a newspaper column
His weekly columns during David Cameron’s leadership provided the perfect outlet for Johnson to build his reputation as a viable alternative, without having to deal with the messy business of governing or even being an MP. He will be in demand from newspapers on the right that have championed him. He could once again cause trouble for his nemesis, Rishi Sunak, from the safety of the comment pages, building allies in the press and staying relevant to his cheerleaders at the same time. And it comes with a decent six-figure income. What’s not to like?
Likelihood: 4/5
Buying the Telegraph
Dominic Cummings, Johnson’s former senior adviser in No 10, said the former prime minister used to refer to the Telegraph as his “real boss”. Could he end up being the Telegraph’s boss? The titles have been put up for sale. While Johnson’s growing wealth is nowhere near the £500m-odd it will probably take to buy them, he could be the affable frontman for a consortium. The gloom such an outcome would create in Downing Street would surely appeal to him, and a roving role at the titles would surely follow.
Likelihood: 1/5
