LONDON: OUT of power for a matter of months, comeback king Boris Johnson is once again being touted as the new leader of the governing Conservative Party and Britain's prime minister.
The man who was forced to quit as prime minister in July, brought down by some of the very lawmakers he now hopes will rally around him, is, according to Conservatives and a former aide, taking soundings to see if he has the support to return.
It would be an extraordinary political resurrection for the former journalist, who left office shrouded in scandal but defiant, grumbling that he was brought down by the "herd" - a swipe at the Conservative lawmakers who turned against him.
But the question is whether he can convince the dozens of lawmakers who abandoned him that he is now the person who can unite the party and turn around its flagging fortunes by winning over voters increasingly concerned about the cost of living.
In September, in his final speech as prime minister, Johnson, 58, compared himself to a booster rocket that had fulfilled its mission and to a Roman dictator who, in old age, left his farm to take control of the state and fight off an invasion.
"Like Cincinnatus, I am returning to my plough," he said, in front of the door of Number 10 Downing Street.
Tantalisingly, the legend of Cincinnatus was that he was recalled a second time to fend off another crisis - prompting some to predict Johnson was already planning his return.
For some Conservative lawmakers, Johnson is a vote winner, able to appeal across the country not only with his celebrity but also with his brand of energetic optimism.
For others, he is a liability, a man whose flaws were brutally exposed during his time as prime minister when colleagues in his Downing Street office broke COVID-19 rules by partying when the rest of Britain was under a strict lockdown.
QUIET LIFE?
When Johnson left Downing Street, his aides said he was going to embrace a quieter life, no longer being "public property" and able to make more money by going on the speaker circuit. One said he was considering setting up a foundation to help Ukraine, of which he was a vocal supporter against Russia.
After his successor as prime minister, Liz Truss, quit on Thursday after just six weeks in power, the Ukrainian government Twitter account even published, and then deleted, a meme saying "Better call Boris".
On Friday, a former aide said Johnson was returning from a Caribbean holiday to assess whether he could win the 100 votes from lawmakers needed to make it into the leadership contest.
On current indications, he is trailing his former finance minister, Rishi Sunak, who some Conservatives blame for triggering the rebellion which brought Johnson down.
"He could easily get 100 but I think he'll fall short, just," said one Conservative lawmaker, who is taking the weekend to decide whether to back Sunak or Penny Mordaunt, the third-placed former defence minister who is seen as a fresh face.
Another Conservative lawmaker expressed hope Johnson would run, arguing that at a time when the party's fortunes have never been worse, he is the politician to turn things around.
There is one factor Johnson cannot escape - he is under investigation by parliament's Privileges Committee to establish whether he lied to the House of Commons over the lockdown-breaking parties. If ministers are found to have knowingly misled parliament, they are expected to resign.
And he may be the wrong person to unite a party which is deeply divided after seeing off four prime ministers in six years, said one Conservative lawmaker.
Johnson's former aide, Will Walden, said his one-time boss would only run if he was assured a victory.
"Boris hates losing and I suspect that he won't do it if he can't make it to the threshold of 100 MPs needed," Walden told the BBC. "The country needs a grown-up, serious leader.
"Boris had his chance, let's move on."
Reuters
Sat Oct 22 2022
![Comeback king: Boris Johnson considering a run for UK prime minister Comeback king: Boris Johnson considering a run for UK prime minister](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-03/61617055508_TBBORISJOHNSON.jpg)
Can Boris Johnson convince the dozens of lawmakers who abandoned him that he is now the person who can unite the party? - AP/Filepic
![Melaka tingkatkan penganjuran program advokasi, kurangkan isu sosial pelajar sekolah Melaka tingkatkan penganjuran program advokasi, kurangkan isu sosial pelajar sekolah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2016-12/51482503138_budaksekolahmotor.jpg)
Melaka tingkatkan penganjuran program advokasi, kurangkan isu sosial pelajar sekolah
Program Advokasi Kanak-Kanak dengan kerjasama JKM Melaka dianjur bagi mendidik ibu bapa dan pelajar tentang isu semasa melibatkan generasi muda.
![Fungsi JKDM tidak bertindih dengan JPKK, JPKKP Fungsi JKDM tidak bertindih dengan JPKK, JPKKP](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-05/61684818102_RubiahWang.jpg)
Fungsi JKDM tidak bertindih dengan JPKK, JPKKP
JPKK dan JPKKP berperanan mengurus dan mentadbir sesuatu kampung manakala JKDM bertindak menyelaras program sosioekonomi dan keusahawanan.
![Pelanggan digesa terus berwaspada terhadap penipuan digital - ABM Pelanggan digesa terus berwaspada terhadap penipuan digital - ABM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-05/61683697104_CyberAttack.jpg)
Pelanggan digesa terus berwaspada terhadap penipuan digital - ABM
ABM memberi amaran bahawa penipu biasanya menggunakan taktik 'kejuruteraan sosial' untuk memanipulasi pengguna.
![Malaysia, Thailand sasar dagangan dua hala cecah AS$30 bilion menjelang 2027 Malaysia, Thailand sasar dagangan dua hala cecah AS$30 bilion menjelang 2027](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51720094373_Flag.jpg)
Malaysia, Thailand sasar dagangan dua hala cecah AS$30 bilion menjelang 2027
Harapan itu disuarakan susulan berlangsungnya Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Bersama Malaysia-Thailand (JTC) kali ketiga di Kuala Lumpur, pada Khamis.
![China sokong usaha Kazakhstan untuk sertai BRICS China sokong usaha Kazakhstan untuk sertai BRICS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71720107136_OrganizationSCOs.jpg)
China sokong usaha Kazakhstan untuk sertai BRICS
Pengumuman dibuat dalam satu kenyataan bersama selepas pertemuan antara Presiden Xi Jinping dan Presiden Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
![Pasaran modal perlu perluas pembangunan bakat untuk sokong pengembangan industri - Lim Pasaran modal perlu perluas pembangunan bakat untuk sokong pengembangan industri - Lim](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/41718092295_tbLimHuiYing.jpg)
Pasaran modal perlu perluas pembangunan bakat untuk sokong pengembangan industri - Lim
Pembangunan kemahiran dan kapasiti adalah penting bagi membina asas kukuh dan memperoleh keupayaan untuk mengubah pengetahuan kepada pertumbuhan.
IOC tolak khabar angin pembatalan Sukan Olimpik Paris
Jawatankuasa Olimpik Antarabangsa (IOC) menolak "khabar angin" mengenai pembatalan atau penangguhan Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024 berikutan situasi politik di Perancis. IOC menyatakan ia adalah sebahagian daripada kempen maklumat palsu.
Warga London berharap tapi tidak optimis
Penduduk di London mempunyai pandangan dan jangkaan yang bercampur baur dengan sebilangan berasa optimistik dengan keputusan yang bakal diterima manakala yang lain mengatakan mereka tidak akan mengundi.
Parti Buruh diramalkan tewaskan Konservatif pimpinan Sunak
Tinjauan pendapat meletakkan parti Starmer di landasan untuk mendapatkan kemenangan besar tetapi juga mencadangkan ramai pengundi hanya mahukan perubahan selepas tempoh perbalahan dan pergolakan di bawah Konservatif
Enam ditahan kes rempuhan di utara India
Insiden itu berlaku pada Selasa (2 Julai) di kampung Phulrai Mughal Garhi, di daerah Hathras, di mana kira-kira 250,000 orang berkumpul untuk mendengar ceramah seorang pendakwah terkenal.
![Tak sedar aksi dirakam, penyampai BBC mohon maaf kepada penonton Tak sedar aksi dirakam, penyampai BBC mohon maaf kepada penonton](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/41702020134_TBmiddlefinger.jpg)
Tak sedar aksi dirakam, penyampai BBC mohon maaf kepada penonton
Seorang penyampai berita saluran BBC memohon maaf atas selepas tidak sengaja menunjukkan jari tengah ketika mula bersiaran di televisyen.
![Parlimen Britain sahkan laporan Boris Johnson berbohong Parlimen Britain sahkan laporan Boris Johnson berbohong](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-07/61657165483_BorisJohnson.jpg)
Parlimen Britain sahkan laporan Boris Johnson berbohong
Ini sekaligus memberikan satu lagi tamparan kepada kerjaya politik bekas Perdana Menteri itu.
![Boris Johnson didapati bersalah kerana 'penghinaan berulang' terhadap Parlimen Boris Johnson didapati bersalah kerana 'penghinaan berulang' terhadap Parlimen](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-06/51686828995_BorisJohnson.jpg)
Boris Johnson didapati bersalah kerana 'penghinaan berulang' terhadap Parlimen
Siasatan mendapati bekas perdana menteri Britain Boris Johnson "berulang kali menghina" Parlimen berikutan penafiannya mengenai skandal "partygate".
![Boris Johnson letak jawatan sebagai ahli parlimen Boris Johnson letak jawatan sebagai ahli parlimen](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-06/51686354238_BorisJohnson.jpg)
Boris Johnson letak jawatan sebagai ahli parlimen
Bekas Perdana Menteri itu akui sedih apabila mengambil keputusan letak jawatan.
![Kerajaan Britain diberi lebih masa serah mesej WhatsApp Boris Johnson Kerajaan Britain diberi lebih masa serah mesej WhatsApp Boris Johnson](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-07/81657211551_BorisJohnsonBrita.jpg)
Kerajaan Britain diberi lebih masa serah mesej WhatsApp Boris Johnson
Hakim memberi tempoh sehingga Khamis, menyerahkan mesej dari aplikasi WhatsApp dan diari Johnson sebagai sebahagian daripada siasatannya.
![Pengerusi BBC letak jawatan selepas laporan beliau terlibat dalam pinjaman untuk Boris Johnson Pengerusi BBC letak jawatan selepas laporan beliau terlibat dalam pinjaman untuk Boris Johnson](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/61682687396_RichardSharp.jpg)
Pengerusi BBC letak jawatan selepas laporan beliau terlibat dalam pinjaman untuk Boris Johnson
Pengerusi BBC Britain meletak jawatan pada Jumaat berikutan laporan yang mendapati beliau melanggar kod kerajaan.
!['Tiada bukti saya mengelirukan Parlimen' - Boris Johnson 'Tiada bukti saya mengelirukan Parlimen' - Boris Johnson](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-03/81679443392_TBBorisJohnson.jpg)
'Tiada bukti saya mengelirukan Parlimen' - Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson menafikan beliau sengaja mengelirukan Dewan Rakyat dalam skandal parti di pejabat Downing Street.
![Boris Johnson dipilih bertanding di Uxbridge, bagi pilihan raya umum akan datang Boris Johnson dipilih bertanding di Uxbridge, bagi pilihan raya umum akan datang](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-10/61666325227_BorisJohnson.jpg)
Boris Johnson dipilih bertanding di Uxbridge, bagi pilihan raya umum akan datang
Pilihan raya umum akan datang di United Kingdom dijangka berlangsung selewat-lewatnya pada Januari 2025.
![PM UK: Boris Johnson tarik diri, Rishi Sunak calon kegemaran PM UK: Boris Johnson tarik diri, Rishi Sunak calon kegemaran](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-10/81666496085_BorisJohnson.jpg)
PM UK: Boris Johnson tarik diri, Rishi Sunak calon kegemaran
Percubaan kali pertama Sunak ialah pada musim panas lalu berikutan peletakan jawatan Johnson, tetapi kalah kepada Liz Truss, yang meletak jawatan Khamis lalu.
![Boris Johnson tidak akan sertai perlumbaan jadi PM Boris Johnson tidak akan sertai perlumbaan jadi PM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-07/61657165483_BorisJohnson.jpg)
Boris Johnson tidak akan sertai perlumbaan jadi PM
Beliau memutuskan bahawa ia adalah satu keputusan yang tidak wajar untuk berbuat demikian pada masa ini.