Reuters, Oct. 23, LONDON - After major members of the extreme wing of the Conservative Party formed an alliance with the man previously accused of betraying him, Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson was scrambling on Sunday to muster enough support to make a surprise comeback as Britain's prime minister.
Sunak, the 42-year-old former finance minister, said on Sunday that he will run for Liz Truss' job and vowed to handle the "deep economic catastrophe" facing the nation with "integrity, professionalism, and responsibility."
Sunak, the man Johnson's supporters accuse of terminating his former three-year term in government, declared: "I want to heal our economy, unify our party, and deliver for our nation."
In July, Sunak resigned from the government, sparking an unprecedented ministerial uprising against Johnson.
The announcement from the undisputed front-runner serves as a challenge to Johnson, who has just returned from a Caribbean vacation and is attempting to get the support of 100 MPs in order to be included on Monday's ballot.
His earlier tenure in Downing Street was backed by a wide range of party factions, including the right-wingers who were instrumental in securing Britain's exit from the European Union.
This time, though, many of Johnson's prior supporters have advised him to resign, pointing out that the nation needs stability after Truss's turbulent six weeks in office generated unrest in financial markets and devalued the pound.
Johnson is still under investigation by the privileges committee for allegations that he misled the legislature over Downing Street parties during COVID-19 lockdowns. If found guilty, he may be required to step down or face a suspension from his position.
According to Steve Baker, a well-known congressman on the party's right who is supporting Sunak, "now isn't the time for Boris's style." The privileges vote, I'm afraid, is what's causing all the turmoil; Boris would be a surefire failure.
Truss was compelled to resign when her extreme economic policies increased borrowing costs and mortgage rates at a time when energy and food prices were on the rise, forcing Truss into yet another leadership contest in Britain.
To become the nation's sixth prime minister in six years, candidates Sunak, Johnson, and former defense minister Penny Mordaunt are all in the running.
The head of the opposition, Keir Starmer, called the fight for control of the Conservative Party a "ridiculous, chaotic carnival" and stated that the millions of Britons who are having trouble making ends meet were his main concern.
A nationwide election has been called by the leader of the Labour Party and other opposition parties.
DEEPLY UNPOPULAR
Many in the fractured Conservative Party see Johnson's potential return to be divisive, and his support among voters had already declined before he was driven out.
He can win over voters across the nation with his star image and particular brand of upbeat optimism, according to several MPs. Others view him negatively as a divisive personality who would fail to unify the party and hence may thwart efforts to assemble a strong leadership to calm the financial markets.
On Sunday, Johnson received support from the foreign secretary James Cleverly, who said Johnson had "learned lessons from his time in No. 10 and will ensure the emphasis is on the needs of the country from day one."
Sunak, though, kept growing his advantage among MPs. According to Sky News, Johnson had 59 of the 140 expressions of support. About 130 MPs have not made their intentions known.
Sunak would become the country's first prime minister of Indian descent if elected.
His family immigrated to Britain in the 1960s, a decade that saw a large influx of colonial residents seeking work following the Second World War.
He attended Stanford University after earning his degree from Oxford University, where he met his future wife Akshata Murthy, whose father is Indian billionaire N. R. Narayana Murthy, the creator of the world's largest outsourcing company Infosys Ltd.
Sunak first gained widespread recognition when, at the age of 39, he was appointed finance minister by Johnson just as the COVID-19 epidemic reached Britain and created a furlough program to aid millions of people through several lockdowns.
In a message released on Sunday, Sunak stated, "I served as your chancellor, helping to lead our economy through the most trying of times." "The difficulties we currently confront are far more severe. But if we choose well, the prospects are incredible."
Sunak continues to be extremely unpopular with a huge portion of the party membership despite surveys showing him to be less unpopular than Johnson with the general public.
The expedited election's regulations state that the prime minister will be chosen on Monday if just one contender has the support of 100 Conservative legislators.
In the event that two candidates clear the required percentage, they will advance to a vote among the party's members. The winner will be declared on Friday, only a few days before Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt is scheduled to reveal the health of the nation's finances on October 31.
Hunt would not be fired by Johnson, according to the Telegraph.
Johnson's supporters claim that he has the backing of over 100 politicians, but many of them are remaining silent since they are still employed by the government.
James Duddridge, one of Johnson's fans, claimed that Johnson addressed them on Sunday and was in "excellent form" and well-groomed.
The three contenders have not yet provided any information regarding the specific policies they will implement if elected prime minister.