Boris Johnson tipped for ‘Churchill’ comeback as ex-PM sends out slick Christmas message | Politics | News
Nadhim Zahawi says Boris Johnson will not make a comeback as prime minister
Boris Johnson will hold on to his razor-sharp west London constituency at the next general election, the former Prime Minister’s allies have claimed. Mr Johnson recently released a series of nifty videos showing him wandering around Uxbridge and South Ruislip. In the weeks since Mr Johnson withdrew from the Tory Party leadership race against his ex-Chancellor Rishi Sunak, the former Prime Minister has uploaded seven videos to his official Instagram account.
The number is a significant increase compared to the four released in the two months after Mr Johnson first left Downing Street.
In his latest video, the ex-Prime Minister said: “Hello folks, Boris Johnson here at Uxbridge Library, where you can usually find me, wishes everyone in Uxbridge and South Ruislip a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
“I am confident that our best days are ahead of us, as they are for Wealdstone Football Club, they have had a very positive start to the season.
“And I can tell you that here in Hillingdon, here in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, we are moving forward with all kinds of wonderful projects, particularly the new Hillingdon Hospital.
“[It is] It is absolutely essential that the fantastic NHS doctors, nurses and all caregivers are given the facilities to match their love, care and expertise.
“This is what we do and we are working very hard to deliver this in the months to come, and much more.
JUST IN: Brexiteer furiously warns EU mega-fishing quotas risk decimating UK waters
Boris Johnson hinted at ‘Churchill’ comeback as ex-PM sent snazzy Christmas message (Image: Getty)
“But in the meantime, have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
The celebratory message to voters comes just days after the former Prime Minister again hinted at a Churchillian comeback.
Writing to The Spectator on December 12, Mr Johnson described the current period in his working life as an “unexpected hiatus” in his career.
During his farewell speech at Downing Street in September, Mr Johnson even compared himself to Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus.
The 58-year-old referred to how the Roman statesman “returned to his plough” after high office, but does not say that he was later recalled to power.
Mr Johnson would eventually stage a short-lived plot to return to Number 10 after Liz Truss resigned in October, and garnered the support of 110 Conservative peers in the Commons.
READ MORE: Labor’s plan to protect borders is blown to pieces as key candidate backs illegal migrants
Boris Johnson campaigned for Vote Leave during the 2016 referendum (Image: Getty)
Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak in the running to succeed Boris Johnson in the summer. (Image: Getty)
However, much to the disappointment of his closest political friends, Mr Johnson withdrew from the race fearing he would not be able to unite Tory MPs.
Despite a tumultuous 12 months, the former Prime Minister’s allies remain hopeful he will return to Parliament as MP for Uxbridge & South Ruislip at the next general election.
A Conservative MP told Express.co.uk: “Boris still has enormous potential to offer to British politics. I look forward to seeing him re-elected as MP and beating the drum for conservatism long into the future.”
Another argued: “I know Boris is determined to fight and win against Uxbridge.
“He has a strong local following, residents tell me.”
A third MP added: “I think what this shows is that, apart from what people see of him as a public figure, he is also an excellent MP who campaigns hard on local issues in his constituency. “
DO NOT MISS
Sunak supporters ‘unnerved’ by Tory’s new pro-democracy movement. [REVEAL]
“Rwanda decision shows courts have changed” [INSIGHT]
New crisis for Sunak as military numbers fall [REACT]
Boris Johnson won a landslide victory in the 2019 general election. (Image: Getty)
A Savanta MRP opinion poll gave Sir Keir Starmer’s Labor Party a whopping 314 seats. (Image: Getty)
An unnamed former aide to the ex-Prime Minister claimed Mr Johnson will remain committed to his 2019 manifesto promises, including promotion.
They told Express.co.uk: “Boris still has a lot to offer the nation and still has a good team of people around him.
“He’s not the kind of person who is content to see Britain descend into controlled decline.
“It wasn’t just a hoopla, things like promotion mean a lot to him and he’ll want to keep it on the political agenda.”
One staunch supporter of the former Prime Minister even compared Mr Johnson’s prospects to his own hero, Winston Churchill.
They said: “Boris is rightly solidifying his constituency with admirable work supporting important local campaigns such as the new hospital.
“Boris still has a lot to offer the nation and still has a good team around him.” (Image: Getty)
It took WinstonChurchill six years and a second loss before he returned to power. (Image: Getty)
“This shows he is serious about staying on as MP and in 2023 he could return – like Churchill.”
Mr Churchill, who was the subject of Mr Johnson’s own book in 2014, has had two non-consecutive stints at Downing Street.
He succeeded Neville Chamberlain as wartime British Prime Minister in 1940, but later lost the 1945 election to Labour’s Clement Attlee.
It took Churchill six years and a second defeat in the general election before he returned to power in 1951.
Despite the support of his allies, Mr Johnson must hope that the Conservative Party can erase Labor’s current lead in opinion polls and stave off the Privilege Committee challenge.
An MRP poll by Savanta ComRes seemed to suggest the tide was turning against the Tories across the UK as it won Sir Keir Starmer’s Labor Party a whopping 314 seats and indicated Mr Johnson is currently losing his seat would.
In his farewell speech from Downing Street, Johnson even compared himself to Cincinnatus. (Image: Getty)
The Privileges Committee will be chaired by Harriet Harman, the former leader of the Labor Party. (Image: Getty)
The Privileges Committee, chaired by former Labor Party leader Harriet Harman, was set to investigate whether the ex-London Mayor “deliberately” or “knowingly” misled Parliament about Partygate.
However, it later issued a report claiming: “No intent is required to commit a contempt.”
Allies of Mr Johnson reacted to the change by claiming the committee had become a “witch hunt”.
The inquiry was postponed until 2023 after Downing Street submitted an evidence dossier four months after it was requested.
If Mr Johnson is found to have flouted the House of Commons, the Privileges Committee could recommend suspending him from Parliament for 10 days.
The sanction would trigger a recall request in Uxbridge & South Ruislip which could lead to a by-election.
