The Tory MP for Ashfield has called Boris Johnson 'my choice' in the party leadership race. The former Prime Minister has still not officially thrown his hat into the ring following the resignation of Liz Truss.
However, Lee Anderson has revealed on Facebook that the 58-year-old MP for Uckfield has his backing after he called Mr Anderson earlier today (October 22). Mr Johnson had been on holiday in the Caribbean while parliament was in session.
He was pictured returning to Gatwick on Saturday morning as his supporters said he would be the obvious choice to take over as leader. Mr Anderson agreed, saying that Mr Johnson has his support.
READ MORE: Who Nottinghamshire MPs are backing to be the next Prime Minister
In a post on Facebook which appeared to reference the slogan “Bring Back Boris”, Mr Anderson said: “My Choice. Boris Johnson just called me. We have had a long chat about everything past and present.
“My inbox is full of BBB. I am drawing a line under it. Boris has my support.”
Earlier this week, Brendan Clarke-Smith, MP for Bassetlaw, told BBC News that the former Prime Minister had "unfinished business" after being forced out of office only weeks ago. Tom Randall, MP for Gedling, is currently undecided but a spokesperson for the Gedling MP said he would be "considering matters over the weekend."
Ben Bradley, MP for Mansfield, has not confirmed who he is backing yet. He is instead running an online poll for Mansfield residents to have their say on who would be the best candidate out of Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak or Penny Mordaunt.
Robert Jenrick, MP for Newark, who is serving as a health minister under Liz Truss' outgoing premiership, says: "I’m backing Rishi Sunak to be our Prime Minister. Rishi will restore public confidence in our party and market confidence in our economy."
A spokesperson for Ruth Edwards, MP for Rushcliffe, said that she would be backing Rishi Sunak in the leadership contest. Mark Spencer, MP for Sherwood and Darren Henry, MP for Broxtowe, have not yet stated a preference.
So far, only the current Leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt, has confirmed that she is standing in the race at the time of writing. Former Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Mr Johnson have also emerged as front-runners.
Only candidates with more than 100 nominations from MPs will go through. If only one candidate crosses this threshold, they will become the next UK Prime Minister on Monday.
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