The pair have been told to set aside their tumultuous past in the wake of Liz Truss’s resignation. (Picture: Getty/ Reuters)
Rishi Sunak has been urged to ‘get back together’ with Boris Johnson to ‘fight Labour’.
The pair had sparred in a massive row over taxes before the ex-Chancellor’s shock resignation in July.
It led to a domino effect of departures that ultimately paved the way for Mr Johnson’s fate.
The former Prime Minister, currently on holiday in the Caribbean, has been touted as a potential replacement for Ms Truss.
In the face of another leadership battle, some Tories have recommended that he and Mr Sunak reunite – despite their tumultuous past.
An ally told the Telegraph: ’If the Tories are serious about winning in 2024 and want to stop a general election before then they need to revert to the guy with a mandate who is a seasoned campaigner.
‘They need someone to take the fight to Labour.
‘There’s no point going to a yellow box junction without knowing how you are going to get out of it. Rishi should make contact and work out how the two of them can get back together.’
Boris Johnson is said to be ‘thanking MPs’ for recent messages of support (Picture: AP)
Mr Johnson is expected to fly back from the Caribbean this weekend.
While he has not spoken publicly about Ms Truss’s resignation, he is reportedly ‘thanking MPs for their messages.’
Trade minister James Duddridge tweeted yesterday: ‘Hope you enjoyed your holiday boss. Time to come back. Few issues at the office that need addressing.’
But not all Tories are supportive of Mr Johnson’s potential return to No 10.
One ex-minister insisted: ‘If that ego on sticks becomes leader I will surrender the whip. Many of us will not stand for that man’s leadership.’
Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson had a ‘major row’ over taxes earlier this year (Picture: PA)
Tory MP Crispin Blunt echoed the comments, telling Sky News this morning: ‘I don’t think we can go back there for the next two years.
‘Boris Johnson has the most astonishing set of skills but there are one or two weaknesses kicking around in that personality and they were fairly brutally exposed…
‘He is probably not the character to restore our reputation for the next two years because of that controversy.’
Mr Blunt said a comeback by Mr Johnson would mean the party would be ‘probably straight back in the pickle we were in when he left office’.
Meanwhile Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth called a potential comeback staggering, adding: ‘It beggars belief Conservative MPs think that would be an appropriate thing to do.’
As the dust settled following Ms Truss’s resignation speech yesterday, rumours soon spread about who would be left in the running for her replacement.
Mr Sunak’s allies aid he was ‘almost certain to stand’ in the coming leadership battle.
Other likely candidates include Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, Suella Braverman and Kemi Badenoch.
The race will be fast-tracked to avoid a repeat of this summer’s 55-day contest – longer than Ms Truss’s premiership.
All must have nominations from 100 of the 357 Tory MPs, who vote on Monday. Unless they unite around a single candidate, 172,000 party members will decide between the top two in a secure online ballot after a possible TV debate, with the winner named by the end of the week.
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The pair have been urged to reconcile to ‘fight Labour’ together in the wake of Liz Truss’s resignation.