A Boris Johnson ally today claimed he is at the 100 backers he needs to run for PM - despite nowhere near that many declaring in public, and key Tories deserting him.
The disgraced former premier jetted in this morning from his Caribbean beach holiday after telling allies he was “up for” the leadership battle against Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt.
By mid-afternoon he appeared to have stalled on just over 50 publicly-declared nominators - far short of the 100 needed by 2pm on Monday to get on the ballot - despite six Cabinet ministers and Priti Patel swinging behind him.
But in a surprise move his former parliamentary aide, James Duddridge, tweeted just before 3pm on Saturday: “New - Boris Johnson has more than 100 backers”.
That would mean more than 40 backers offering support in private, without saying it publicly.
And it comes despite a string of key former allies - Lord Frost, Dominic Raab and Steve Barclay - disowning Mr Johnson this morning and backing his rival Rishi Sunak instead.
Rishi Sunak-backing MPs poured cold water on the claim with one scoffing: "I think he's bluffing."
Boris Johnson has not yet confirmed he will run, and there is still speculation he could team up with Rishi Sunak - who has already passed the 100 nominees he needs to run for PM, and is expected to declare this weekend.
He has been pictured doing a ring round for MPs' support after arriving back from holiday, with MP Lee Anderson lending his public support.
But the ex-PM's dad Stanley today predicted his son "will put his name forward", and added as a Tory member he will personally vote for him.
Mr Johnson Senior told GB News "he believes there are things to do still” and despite lucrative speaking offers, “he’s ready to give those temptations up to endure the slings and arrows” of leadership.
Tory MPs who back Rishi Sunak voiced doubt over the '100 Johnson backers' claim - pointing out MPs can say one thing privately and do another in the election.
One Sunak-backer branded the claim "completely desperate" and suggested it was made up to keep momentum up for Mr Johnson. "Desperate move as it can easily backfire," they added.
Labour MP Chris Bryant retorted: "Name them."
Tory MP Richard Holden, a Sunak backer, retweeted a GIF of Alan Partridge saying "I've got 104 friends".
One MP said there was a natural "ceiling" on support for Boris Johnson after more than 70 MPs called for him to resign in the summer. The MP added they had spoken to constituents and “I was totally surprised by how many of them are not on board with Boris.
"Many of them are thinking Rishi."
The MP said: “I think one way or another Boris will not be Prime Minister. Either he’ll not get to 100, or he’ll get to 100, MPs will have an indicative vote and it’ll be clear he’s not the favourite.
“Backing Rishi is the logical and sensible thing to do.”
But a Boris Johnson ally told the Mirror: "I would be surprised if he doesn’t make 100”.
The ally pointed out more than 150 MPs were still to declare - many of them right-wing Brexiteers who may swing behind Mr Johnson if no right-wing candidate, like Suella Braverman or Kemi Badenoch, emerges this weekend.
Disgraced Boris Johnson, who was forced out over parties, ‘porkies’, paint jobs and the fact he knew about ‘grope’ accused MP Chris Pincher, landed from the Dominican Republic this morning into a storm that plunges the UK further into chaos.
After bunking off Parliament last week to give a £135,000 speech, he stayed on the other side of the Atlantic at a beach bar while the government collapsed - despite still being a sitting MP.
But as he landed his former deputy PM, Brexit chief and chief of staff all turned against him to back Rishi Sunak instead.
In an explosive intervention his former deputy Dominic Raab warned Boris Johnson not to run for leader again. “We can't have another episode of the Groundhog Day, of the soap opera, the party game,” Mr Raab said. “We must get the country and the government moving forward."
Ex-chief of staff Steve Barclay backed Rishi Sunak, saying: "Our country faces significant economic challenges and Rishi is best placed to address this."
David Frost - who Mr Johnson put in the Lords as his Brexit minister - said Mr Johnson "will always be a hero" but backed "capable" Rishi Sunak, adding: "We must move on.
"It is simply not right to risk repeating the chaos & confusion of the last year."
Backings for Rishi Sunak continued to trickle in throughout Saturday but only a handful added to Penny Mordaunt's tally of just over 20 - suggesting she would have to drop out.
Ms Mordaunt today said she had been encouraged by the support she had received from fellow Tories and wanted to unite the party. She also assured Jeremy Hunt he could stay on as Chancellor if she won.
Liz Truss resigned on Thursday after just 44 days in office, becoming Britain’s shortest-serving PM in history.
She lasted less time than the B&Q returns policy, Cher's Believe staying at No1 in the charts, or magician David Blaine’s stint living in a box after she unleashed chaos on the mortgage market with £70bn in unfunded tax cuts.
If Mr Johnson were to drop out of the race, or fail to reach 100 backers, Rishi Sunak could be “crowned” Prime Minister as soon as Monday night or Tuesday morning.
If two candidates get over the 100-nomination threshold they will go to a quick run-off of the Tory membership.
But MPs will hold an “indicative vote” between the two first - ramping up pressure either on members to make the “right” choice, or on one of the two candidates to drop out.
Former Boris Johnson backed Robert Jenrick said “we need serious, competent leadership” in the form of Rishi Sunak adding: “The markets will no longer tolerate fiscal cakeism.
“There may be another moment for Boris, but now is not the time for him to take back the reins.”
Former Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer, who backed Boris Johnson in 2019, told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme: “Boris Johnson is a friend of mine. I love him to bits, he is a great guy, but I just don’t think I cannot put myself through that again.
“I don’t think I can ask my constituents to. He has got amazing qualities, but it is now time for serious, competent government. The country is in a dire situation.”
Nigel Mills, who backed Boris Johnson in 2019, then Kemi Badenoch and Liz Truss in the summer, said Rishi Sunak “is clearly the Prime Minister we need to restore stability and tackle the many serious challenges facing the country.”
Sir Desmond Swayne, a 2019 supporter who backed Suella Braverman and then Rishi Sunak in the summer, posted a link to Mr Sunak’s website.
Oliver Dowden, party chair under Boris Johnson who switched to Sunak in the last leadership election, stuck by him. Chris Grayling, who backed Boris Johnson in 2019, also switched to Rishi Suank according to the Guido Fawkes blog.
