In a week where the country was forced to watch a second prime minister resign in just three months, the halls of Westminster have once again dominated the headlines.
Eyes have been glued to a truly tumultous week in the nation's capital, and as the Conservatives gear up to elect a third leader in as many years, there's one name that doesn't seem to fade - Boris Johnson.
The ex-Prime Minister is trying to orchaestrate a remarkable comeback to Number 10, only weeks after he was forced to resign from Downing Street following a number of scandals. As of Friday evening, he is second favourite - behind Rishi Sunak - with the bookies to take the top job.
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And over 200 miles away from parliament, voters in Middleton certainly had Boris on the brain when the Manchester Evening News spoke to them this morning. This is a traditionally 'red-wall' seat, only deviating from Labour in 2019 when Conservative MP Chris Clarkson was elected and Johnson took the top job. And a number of voters we spoke to in just a couple of hours on Friday morning said they want him back.
"Boris is the right person to lead this country - I think he was bullied out," Jackie Bird, who was out shopping with husband Patrick, told the M.E.N. "Bring him back. He's a people's person."
Jackie and Patrick both voted Conservative in 2019, and said that if there was a general election soon they would again - but only if Mr Johnson was standing as Tory leader. If not, the pair said they wouldn't vote at all.
"I just think Boris is a people's person, he knows what the real family goes through, not just the rich," Jackie said. "And he did look after all those people that were desperate during Covid. He sees the other side of people's lives, because he mixes in with it."
Roalind Sheehy was out shopping with her mother Kathleen. She sais she thought Boris had 'made mistakes' but should come back as prime minister. "Didn't everybody break the rules during Covid?," she asked.
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When reminded that Boris was forced to resign after covering up that he had been aware of a formal complaint made against Conservative MP Chris Pincher after he was accused of groping two men at a private members' club in London, she said she hadn't remembered that. "A lot of people think it was to do with all the parties," she told the M.E.N.
"Anyway, I think he's brilliant, he should come back. Everyone makes mistakes, it's like football, isn't it."
Rosalind described Liz Truss as 'delirious', and said she hopes that the next prime minister will help pensioners like her mother. She didn't vote in 2019, but said if the next leader committed to helping pensioners she would vote for them.
But others felt less sure. Mrs Dean, 76, from Middleton, was out with her grandson Matthew this morning. She told the M.E.N she was a 'lifelong' Conservative voter but never understood why Liz Truss was chosen.
"I'm all confused by it all," she said. "I don't know why they picked her. She didn't have a clue. She wasn't ready for it. She wanted to do things her way, she wouldn't listen to anyone.
"I know Boris was a pain, but I believed he actually cared about the country. And the Labour leader, I'm not sure about him.
"They've [Tories] definitely lost credibility. But I don't think its the right time for a general election because whoever comes in is going to have to do an awful lot of work to get everything back together again, so they've got a hard time.
"He most likely would listen to people more than Truss - she didn't listen to anyone. Rishi Sunak would probably be alright, he knows a bit about the budget and what's what. But I'm not too sure who I'd vote for at the moment."
Barry Drinkwater was out with dog Sergio. He said he didn't think 'any of them' were 'any good'. "It doesn't matter who you have in, they all just think about themselves and their friends," he said.
Barry voted for Boris in 2019, but said he didn't know if he would vote for him again. "I don't think any of them are strong enough to run the country right now," he added.
Rachel Pearson said she is a life-long Labour voter and thought it was 'a joke' that Boris was being given a potential second chance at the premiership. "I think if someone has had to step away from the role because they failed, they shouldn't be able to come back," she explained.
"I think the Conservatives have pulled a number on poorer people, when they are oppressing them."
Rachel said they thought all politicians were 'monkeys', but it was time to give Labour a chance. "They've had their shot, now let the other monkeys have a go," she told the M.E.N. "It's time for a change."
And some said they'd lost all hope. Passing by, one shopper sighed: "Oh, I just give up on it all. I give up!"
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