Robert Jenrick has mentioned he can be “delighted” to incorporate Boris Johnson in his shadow cupboard if he gained the Tory management contest.
The previous immigration minister mentioned the Conservatives want “the best people who are available” and he can be “pleased” to welcome again the previous prime minister, ought to he wish to return.
Mr Johnson was ousted from Quantity 10 in July 2022 after the Chris Pincher affair sparked a mass exodus from his authorities.
He later resigned as an MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, after a Commons inquiry decided he had lied to parliament over the partygate scandal.
Requested whether or not he would have Mr Johnson in his prime crew, Mr Jenrick instructed The Telegraph: “Yeah. I believe what we’d like are one of the best people who find themselves out there within the Conservative household to be on the pitch, supporting us to be a robust Opposition, holding Keir Starmer to account for all the failings that we already see, and finally profitable the following basic election.
“And if Boris wanted to be part of that, I’d be delighted.”
Mr Johnson has denied wrongdoing in relation to the Downing Avenue events and accused the Commons of a witch hunt in opposition to him.
He briefly toyed with a return to frontline politics when Liz Truss’s short-lived administration collapsed, however dropped out of the race after concluding that he wouldn’t be capable of unite the occasion.
Since leaving workplace he has made hundreds of thousands in talking engagements and writes a column for the Every day Mail.
He didn’t stand as a candidate within the July basic election however has not dominated out returning to politics sooner or later.
Mr Jenrick, who resigned as Rishi Sunak’s immigration minister final 12 months, is vying to interchange the previous prime minister alongside Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, Dame Priti Patel, Mel Stride and Tom Tugendhat.
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Whoever wins faces the massive activity of uniting the Conservative Celebration and attempting to spice up its standing within the polls after it suffered its worst basic election defeat in historical past.
In line with a ballot of 805 Tory occasion members carried out between 2 August and 12 August, former residence secretary Mr Cleverly is the most well-liked candidate to be the following occasion chief, with 26% supporting him.
He was adopted by Ms Patel on 20%, Ms Badenoch on 14%, Mr Tugendhat on 11%, Mr Jenrick on 10% and Mr Stride on 4%, within the ballot from Techne UK.
Nevertheless, earlier surveys have thrown up different outcomes – and a consensus on a favorite has not emerged.
The present slate of six candidates will likely be narrowed down by means of votes amongst Tory MPs at first of subsequent month, with the competition finally happening to a vote by the Tory membership when simply two are left.