Tory MPs will try to bring back Boris Johnson because he’s like their “mistress”, a senior MP has predicted.
Jake Berry - a minister under Mr Johnson and Liz Truss's short-lived party chairman - warned Conservatives will get “tempted” when they’re “desperate”.
Sir Jake told The Political Party podcast with Matt Forde: “He’s a bit like the Conservative Party ’s mistress, something he knows about.
“The tempting other woman, the sort of king over the sea or whatever it is.
“I just think knowing my Conservative colleagues in Parliament, there will come a point where they go ‘yeah, but, if he comes back I might keep my job’.
“And I think that will be quite tempting to colleagues.”
He added: “When we are desperate. That’s when he’ll come back. When we really really need him, Boris will say ‘I’m here!’.”
But Sir Jake predicted Mr Johnson would not want to return if the Tories lose the next election - saying: “I just can’t see him doing the hard miles as leader of the opposition.”
The ex-PM flew back from a Dominican Republic holiday to mount a bid for leadership - but pulled out when key allies turned against him.
Boris Johnson raised his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency in Parliament for only the fourth time this week as he turns his eye to keeping his 7,210 majority in 2024.
The PM has not confirmed if he will stand again - but would need to be an MP if he wanted to return as Conservative Party leader.
And local sources have told the Mirror he is likely to see a modest benefit from boundary changes that kick in before the next election.
Hillingdon Council Labour group leader Peter Curling told the Mirror: “Boris Johnson is a Marmite person. You knock on one door and they can’t stand the guy and you knock on another door and it’s ‘bring back Boris’.
“He’s still got a following out there but it’s nowhere near as strong as it was before.”
A spokesman for Boris Johnson declined to comment.
Sir Jake, who founded the Northern Research Group of ‘red wall’ MPs, warned the Tories could lose the next election if they do not inspire voters.
“The Conservative Party knows how to win elections - I’m just not sure we know why we want to win them any more,” he told the podcast.
He said the party has lost some of its “zeal”, adding: “That’s a danger sign that the next place you’re going to go is opposition”.
He added the Autumn Statement “is going to set the tone for the general election - that’s how crucial it is”.
After Jeremy Hunt compared himself to Scrooge, Sir Jake complained: “We’re asking these people to vote for us”.
Meanwhile Sir Jake - who lasted just 49 days in his own job - said Matt Hancock is “politically finished”.
In a brutal verdict, the ex-chairman under Liz Truss said becoming I’m a Celeb camp leader was “the only election he’s ever going to win”.
Sir Jake said of Mr Hancock: “The truth is he’s politically finished.
“I can’t believe that’s a surprise. Did he need to go to the jungle for us to work that out?”
Sir Jake added: “He’s a nice guy right, but I don’t think he’ll be coming back into any major role in government.
“I rather suspect that he is not going to stand at the next general election and concentrate on a career of punditry in the media.”
Matt Forde’s fortnightly West End residency continues with upcoming guests including Rachel Reeves on December 5 and Emily Maitlis & Jon Sopel on January 23. Tickets at mattforde.com
