TORIES loyal to Boris Johnson are looking to move him to a safe seat amid fears he could lose his at the next General Election.
Johnson’s time in government has seen support for the Conservatives plummet in the polls, with Labour moving in front of the scandal-ridden party.
In the 2019 election, the Tory leader won his Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat with 52.6% of the vote – and a majority of 7210.
However, results such as at the Tiverton and Honiton by-election in June – which saw the Tories lose a massive 24,000 vote majority – have put MPs on edge.
Johnson allies are planning to parachute the outgoing prime minister into a safer seat in order to let him carry on as an MP – and plot a return to No 10, according to reports in The Mirror.
An insider told the paper that the idea of offering a peerage to an MP in a safe seat who may be willing to step down had “been discussed”.
“They’re testing the water with MPs with safe seats," the source said.
"They’re prepared to dangle honours in front of ultra-loyalists and those who might be thinking about standing down anyway.”
A second source told The Mirror that Johnson thought the Tories were making a “huge mistake” in deposing him, and that he was planning another run at No 10.
"But sticking with Uxbridge would be risky. So they’re looking at options,” they added.
Nadine Dorries, the Culture Secretary, has reportedly been touted as an option. She currently has a majority of more than 24,000 in her safe Mid Bedfordshire seat.
Reports claim that Dorries has already been put on Johnson’s resignation honours list, along with Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre.
The House of Lords Appointment Commission is said to be holding up the Tory leader's plans. He has previously overruled the body, which vets peerage nominations, to appoint multi-millionaire Tory donor and former party treasurer Peter Cruddas to the Lords.
Cruddas is now spearheading a campaign to have Johnson remain on as prime minister, calling for him to either be put on the Tory leadership ballot, or have his resignation rescinded.
A No 10 spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister has not had any such conversations. He is proud to represent the people of Uxbridge and South Ruislip.”
