Johnson, ousted by scandal, eyes comeback as U.K. prime minister

LONDON — Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson — ousted by ethics scandals just three months ago — jockeyed to make a comeback Friday as one of several contenders seeking to replace Liz Truss, whose rapid downfall threw the country’s leadership into disarray at a time of severe economic challenges.

The governing Conservative Party has ordered a lightning-fast race that aims to install a new prime minister within a week. The leadership uncertainty comes at a time of weak economic growth and as millions struggle with higher borrowing costs and rising prices for groceries, fuel and other basics. A growing wave of strikes by train and postal workers, lawyers and others has revealed mounting discontent as a recession looms.

Mr. Johnson has not declared he is running, but a political ally who spoke with him told Sky News he is “up for it” and bookmakers have made him one of the favorites to win the contest — a reflection of the disarray in the party as it picks its third prime minister this year. It would be an astonishing recovery for a polarizing figure forced out by a series of ethics scandals.

Ms. Truss quit on Thursday after a turbulent 45 days, conceding that she could not deliver on her tax-cutting economic package, which she had to abandon after it caused turmoil in financial markets.

House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt was the first candidate to declare she is running to replace Ms. Truss, saying in a tweet that she represented “a fresh start.” The straight-talking 49-year-old Royal Navy reservist, who briefly served as U.K. defense secretary in 2019, is bookies’ third favorite. Relatively little known to the public, outside Conservative circles she remains best known for appearing on the 2014 reality TV diving show “Splash!”

Leading the pack in lawmakers’ support, though yet to declare, is former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak, who was previously runner-up to Ms. Truss. Mr. Sunak, 42, had repeatedly warned Conservatives that Mr. Truss’ tax-cutting plans would be disastrous — as proved to be the case. The former hedge-fund manager’s supporters consider him a steady hand for an ailing economy.

The wild card is Mr. Johnson, who was forced from office in July and still faces an inquiry into whether he lied to Parliament while in office that could lead to his suspension as a lawmaker.

His allies in Parliament are working to gather support for an “I’m Backing Boris” campaign. One of them, lawmaker James Duddridge, told Sky News that the former prime minister would fly back from a Caribbean vacation to run in the leadership race and was “up for it.”

Mr. Johnson, 58, is still adored by some Conservatives as a vote winner with a rare common touch who led the party to a big election victory in 2019. He is more popular with the party’s grassroots than with lawmakers — and he is reviled by some for the chaos and scandal that marred his term in office.

Mr. Johnson was able to shrug off lapses that would have sunk many politicians. He survived even after he was fined by police for attending one of a series of illegal parties in government buildings while the U.K. was under lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic.

He finally resigned after one scandal too many. That incident involved his appointment of a politician who had been accused of sexual misconduct, sparking an exodus of dozens of members of his government.