The Tories hit a new low today as Boris Johnson was accused of lying in the undignified race for No10.
As he dashed back from his hols in a desperate bid to rally support, Labour ’s Keir Starmer offered “serious, credible change”, saying: “The Tories are unable to govern themselves.”
Boris Johnson claims to have 100 MP backers. But Tory MP Richard Holden said: “They don’t exist.” Rishi Sunak has 113 backers and Penny Mordaunt has 23.
Former Prime Minister Johnson was engaged in a bizarre numbers game in the race for No 10 tonight – as his claim that he has the backing of 100 MPs was rubbished.
His disbelieving rival Rishi Sunak sent out a message to the effect of: “Prove it, mate.”
Sunak-backing MP Richard Holden went a step further, by declaring: “They don’t exist.”
By late evening on Saturday, only 54 had publicly declared for the ex-PM and put it in writing in nomination papers.
Ex-Chancellor Mr Sunak – the bookies’ favourite at 2/5 – had 113 confirmed backers while Commons leader Penny Mordaunt was trailing on 23 and, a 33-1 shot, may not make the final cut.
The Sunday Mirror revealed the “Bring Boris Back” plot seven weeks ago.
MPs’ phones were red hot today as each camp tried to lure supporters away from the other. One Johnson backer said: “I’ve had several calls from Rishi’s people promising me the earth if I would change sides.”
Labour leader Keir Starmer told the Mirror: “The country is fed up to the back teeth with this Tory chaos.
“They’re angry and they want their say, which is why we need a general election now. This is a time to put country first, party second. The Tories are unfit to govern the country and unable to govern themselves.
“We don’t have to go on like this. I lead a serious, credible, changed Labour Party with a plan for economic stability, jobs and growth.”
MPs are adamant that Mr Johnson must keep Jeremy Hunt on as Chancellor even though he was a Remainer and never got a job under Brexiteer BoJo.
The ex-PM has also been told to offer Mr Sunak either Foreign or Home Secretary and rehire some of the 59 ministers who quit in July forcing Mr Johnson to resign. Ms Mordaunt is likely to become deputy PM whoever wins.
Electoral Calculus predicts that on recent polls the Tories would have just 48 MPs of the 365 they had in 2019 – if an election was held tomorrow. That means they would face 507 Labour MPs – up from 203 now – and be behind the SNP on 52, making Nicola Sturgeon’s Scots Nats the official opposition.
Some Tory MPs are threatening to quit if Mr Johnson triumphs. They say he should not stand with next month’s Privileges Committee partygate probe – over whether he lied to Parliament – hanging over him.
That could lead to a suspension and by-election in his seat in Uxbridge, West London. His backers say legal challenges could kick the probe into the long grass. And one Tory MP said: “Boris may be shambolic but his campaigning skills mean at least some of us may keep our seats.”
Mr Johnson returned early from his holiday in the Dominican Republic today for talks with his campaigners led by close friend and former minister Nigel Adams.
Team Boris also includes Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, Trade minister Sir James Duddridge and influential backbencher David Morris.
Ex-Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted her support. But former Commons Speaker John Bercow told GBNews: “ Boris Johnson was an absolutely appalling PM.”
And Nigel Green, boss of the world’s largest fintech company the De Vere Group, said the return of Mr Johnson would spell more economic chaos. He added: “The Second Coming of Boris Johnson would receive the wrath of already jittery financial markets.”
Mr Sunak was backed by former Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and ex-leadership contender Kemi Badenoch, now Trade Secretary. She said: “Right now, being able to say no is what we need.”
Mr Raab added that another Johnson premiership would be like Groundhog Day.
MPs have nicknamed Mr Johnson “Borisconi” after party-loving Silvio Berlusconi, 86, who made three comebacks as Italy’s PM between 2006-11.
Meanwhile, Red Wall MPs are getting a hard time from local associations which insist they vote for Mr Johnson.
One said: “They went crackers when Boris went in the first place and they are adamant they now want him back. He must at least offer Rishi a senior position and keep Jeremy in place to bring everyone back together.”
Since Mr Hunt took over the nation’s purse strings the Pound has gained an average 9% against the dollar in holiday resorts – and £1,000 will now buy an extra $82. It rose 6% in the Caribbean while Mr Johnson was there.
Simon Phillips, of travel money firm No1 Currency, said: “Jeremy Hunt has delivered an unexpected boost to half-term holidaymakers.”
Mr Hunt has now clawed back £32billion from the £45billion black hole predecessor Kwasi Kwarteng ’s unfunded tax cuts created.
Now he needs to find the extra £13billion from spending cuts. Carys Roberts, of the Institute for Public Policy Research, think tank said: “Slashing taxes was never a credible plan for growth or dealing with inflation.”
Older folk are worried that Ms Truss’s promise to keep the triple lock and lift pensions from £185.15 to £203.85 next April may yet be abandoned.
And in more bad news, UK lending is set to more than double to £210billion from Office of Budget Responsibility forecasts of £99billion.
If two candidates remain after tomorrow’s MP vote, the 172,000 party members will chose the next PM. Outgoing PM Liz Truss took the final decision to quit in texts to friends at 4am on Thursday following a sleepless night. Had she not done so, Tory grandees Sir Graham Brady, Lord Hague and Lord Howard were ready to troop into No10 to persuade her to go.
Holiday firm On The Beach cheekily offered Ms Truss a role – as Head of Short Stays. But an insider said: “We do have concerns over her ability to manage budgets.”
