ishi Sunak has formally entered the Tory leadership contest, promising that he would lead with “integrity, professionalism and accountability” in an apparent effort to contrast himself with his predecessors, as his supporters warned of a Boris Johnson comeback would be a “guaranteed disaster”.
Mr Johnson’s supporters have downplayed the fact that he is lagging behind his former chancellor in public support of MPssays he walks “clearly”, although he has not officially stated this.
Sources close to fellow leaders hopeful Penny Mordaunt revealed that the former prime minister has spoken to her and asked her to step aside and join his campaign.
The PA news agency understands that she declined, telling him that most of her support would switch to Mr Sunak if she did.
The revelation is likely to raise suspicions at Westminster that Mr Johnson is struggling to get the level of support from fellow Tory MPs he hopes for.
Sunak, the second candidate to enter the race after Ms. Mordaunt, said he wants to “restore our economy, unite our party and deliver for our country” at a time of “deep economic crisis”.
He said in a statement: “I served as your chancellor and helped guide our economy through the most difficult times.
“The challenges we now face are even greater.
“But the opportunities, if we make the right choice, are phenomenal.
“I have the track record of delivery, a clear plan to solve the biggest problems we face and I will deliver on the promise of the 2019 manifesto.
“There will be integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level of government I lead and I will work day in and day out to get the job done.”
Sunak got a number of valuable backers on Sunday in new Home Secretary Grant Shapps, Employment and Pensions Secretary Chloe Smith and two influential figures on the Tory right: Suella Braverman and Northern Ireland Minister Steve Baker.
I am not willing to give up my integrity for Boris Johnson
Tory big beast Mr Shapps, who also threw his weight behind Mr Sunak in the last leadership match against Liz Trusstweeted that the ex-chancellor would “provide stability and proven economic competence in these challenging times”.
Ms Braverman, who briefly served as Home Secretary under Ms Truss, said that although she had previously “supported Boris”, the country “is now in trouble” and needs “unity, stability and efficiency”.
“Rishi is the only candidate who fits the bill,” she wrote in the Telegraph.
Mr Baker, the former head of the Brexiteers backbench, was scathing in his assessment of a potential comeback from Mr Johnson, who is attempting to return to the top job just months after being forced to leave by his own MPs. leave.
He told Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday: “Boris was guaranteed to be a disaster.
“There will be a vote in the House of Commons on this matter of privilege, whether he will deliberately mislead the House.
“In that vote it is guaranteed that there will be a large number of conservatives who, as they see it, will refuse to give up their integrity to save him, and at that point his premiership will collapse.”
Johnson is to face an investigation into whether he lied to the House of Commons about the partygate scandal, for which he was fined by the police.
If found guilty by the Commons Privileges Committee, he could face a recall that would leave him vying for his seat on the Commons if he is suspended for 10 days or more.
“I am not willing to give up my integrity for Boris Johnson,” said Mr. Baker.
Conservative former cabinet minister Dominic Raab also warned that the party inquiry would overshadow a Johnson premiership.
He told BBC One’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: “In a matter of days, not weeks, he will be seeing witness statements on television, including his own, which will send him right back into that spiral.”
But Johnson was backed on Sunday by Secretary of State James Cleverly and Nadhim Zahawi, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Mr Zahawi said the ex-Prime Minister “got the big calls right” and claimed “Britain needs him back”.
He tweeted: “When I was chancellor, I saw a preview of what Boris 2.0 would look like. He was remorseful and honest about his mistakes. He had learned from those mistakes how to run the number 10 and the country better.”
Zahawi, who along with other ministers including Ben Wallace, Anne-Marie Trevelyan and Jacob Rees-Mogg, supported their former boss, had urged him to step down as prime minister in July.
Mr Cleverly similarly said that Mr Johnson has “learned lessons from his time in issue 10”.
Lisa Nandy, the secretary of the Labor shadow communities, told Ridge: “It is extraordinary to see Tory MPs having a letter of no confidence in him a few weeks ago, saying he was not fit to hold the highest office. and now openly talking about trying to get him back. It is a sign of absolute desperation in the Tory party.”
Mr Rees-Mogg, the business secretary, confirmed that Mr Johnson intends to leave and told Kuenssberg: “I have spoken with Boris Johnson and it is clear that he is standing, there is a lot of support for him.”
Fellow Johnson ally Sir James Duddridge gave a similar indication, suggesting the former prime minister “will cooperate fully” with the party inquiry.
The Tory MP tweeted: “Boris in good shape at the meeting with MPs at 8am. In a first for Boris, he was rather smartly dressed!
“He made it very clear that the Privileges Committee must and will be allowed to proceed with their trial. He will cooperate fully.”
Ms. Mordaunt, the first candidate to run, insisted that she is “in this case to win it”, despite being far behind her potential rivals in public approvals.
She only has 23 of Mr Johnson’s 46 and Mr Sunak’s 127, according to a PA count.
Ms Mordaunt said she was an “intermediary” between Ms Truss and Mr Sunak in the final match and that she is “best placed to unite our party”.
“I’m in this to win. I think it’s important for our celebration, we have a game. I’m very confident in our numbers,” she told Kuenssberg.
But the hopeful leadership declined to give details of its tax and spending policies, explicitly refusing to commit to increasing benefits in line with inflation, triple lock pensions, 3% defense spending and no health care cuts.
“I’m not going to go into details,” she said repeatedly.
She said reports of her offering to support Mr Johnson in exchange for a job from him were “completely false” and declined to say which of her two rivals she would support.
It came after Mr Johnson and Mr Sunak were in talks late into Saturday night amid speculation about whether the pair could agree on a joint ticket.
Johnson returned to the UK on Saturday to plan a second run for the top job, in a move that divided opinion among Conservative MPs, including his former allies.
He arrived at Gatwick Airport with his family after cutting short a vacation in the Dominican Republic following the dramatic resignation of Mrs Truss on Thursday.
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer criticized the “ridiculous, chaotic circus” taking place at the top of the Conservative Party as he reiterated his call for a general election.
Tory MPs will vote on Monday and two candidates will be nominated for party membership unless one withdraws, with a result to be announced on Friday.
Candidates have until 2pm Monday to secure the 100 nominations, with voting limited to a maximum of three candidates.
Supporters of Johnson believe that if he makes it to the last two, he will win in the final online vote of party members with whom he remains popular.
Some MPs have warned they would lay down the Tory whip and sit as independents in the House of Commons if Johnson returned to Downing Street.