PM will not get second chance, say ministers

Tories have turned a page, say senior MPS as they dismiss talk of a Johnson return as ‘tittle tattle’

‘His time in office is coming to an end and that means a new chapter for him and a new chapter for the Tories’

BORIS JOHNSON is finished as Prime Minister, two Cabinet ministers have said, as they swatted aside suggestions he could make a return to No10.

Thérèse Coffey, the Work and Pensions Secretary, dismissed claims the prime minister has told allies he will be back within a year as “speculation and tittle tattle”.

She said he “chose to step down” and would “continue, I’m sure, to be supportive of the next Conservative prime minister and into the next election”.

More than 10,000 Tory members have signed a petition calling for Mr Johnson’s name to be added to the final round of the leadership contest.

Ms Coffey, who is backing Liz Truss, said “understandably a lot of people supported Boris [but] the reality is there’s only two candidates in the race”.

“He has stepped aside and will be stepping down as Prime Minister in due course and I’m focused on the future,” she told broadcasters.

Sir Robert Buckland, the Welsh Secretary, said the Tory party had already moved on and there was virtually no chance of the outgoing PM returning.

“His time in office is coming to an end and that means a new chapter for him and a new chapter for the Conservative Party,” he said.

Asked about the possibility of a comeback, he replied: “It is unlikely. In modern politics there are very few if any second chances. We’ve turned a page.”

He suggested Mr Johnson was likely to return to his pre-leadership activities as a backbencher, including finishing a delayed book on William Shakespeare.

“He’s a man of many parts and many talents. I’m sure he’s going to embark upon a new chapter in his remarkable life and entertain us and wow us in only a way he can.

“He’s still going to have an incredible contribution to make and we’re all going to want to read his books and his articles and enjoy his speeches.”

Mr Buckland, who is supporting Rishi Sunak’s bid for the leadership, said the Prime Minister only had himself to blame for his downfall.

He dismissed suggestions from some within the party that the ex-chancellor was a “traitor” for helping to unseat Mr Johnson. “There were a whole host of events that led to this. I’m afraid the Prime Minister will look back and have to reflect upon why it is that that came about,” he said.

Ms Coffey said she had not thought the PM signing off in the Commons by saying “Hasta la vista, Baby” meant he was planning a comeback. When told that the Spanish phrase means “until the next time”, she replied: “I think it was more about he is very proud of his record of delivery in the last three years.

“It’s up to Boris on how he determines his future. He’s been very clear he wants to support the next leader of our country and make sure we win the next general election.”

Sir Robert also dismissed suggestions the prime minister was secretly backing the Foreign Secretary because he thinks he could replace her in a year’s time.