Boris Johnson in ‘secret summit’ with Conservative rival Rishi Sunak

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak are poised to battle for the leadership of their fractured ruling party.

Rishi Sunak leaves his home in London. Picture: AFP

Conservative party rivals Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak held face-to-face talks late on Saturday as the feuding pair who once headed Britain’s government were poised to battle for the leadership of their fractured ruling party.

The former prime minister, who returned from a Caribbean holiday earlier in the day aiming to launch a political comeback just weeks after leaving office, met his former chancellor of the exchequer to discuss the race.

Mr Sunak then announced his candidacy for the prime ministership on Sunday morning, three days after Liz Truss stood down just 44 days into her tenure. Saturday’s meeting is thought to be their first in-person talks in months, following a spectacular falling out after Mr Sunak’s July resignation helped trigger the government mutiny that prompted Mr Johnson’s ousting as prime minister.

Few details have emerged about what The Sun dubbed a ­“secret summit” and The Sunday Times said was ongoing at close to 10pm. The Sunday Telegraph reported they were set to discuss “agreeing to a joint ticket” to avoid a Tory “civil war”.

Former prime minister Boris Johnson. Picture: AFP

Mr Johnson appears shy of the support of the 100 MPs needed to enter the digital ballot of Tory grassroots party members. Mr Sunak has clearly eclipsed the 100, with more than 125 publicly backing his candidature.

But Mr Johnson, who has the declared support of 58 MPs, is banking on some “shy” supporters. The political diarist Guido Fawkes says Mr Johnson has 73 confirmed backers.

Mr Johnson arrived back in London with his family after a holiday in the Caribbean, and has told other MPs he is considering standing for the leadership.

Under hastily drawn-up rules to avoid another drawn-out leadership battle, the Tory party has decided candidates must get 100 confirmed MPs backing them. If only one achieves the 100 target then they will be made prime minster on Monday night.

House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, who ran third in the last leadership race has also declared her candidacy. Ms Mordaunt has the support of 25 MPs. If she and Mr Johnson fail to secure enough support, then Mr Sunak will be made prime minister without any membership vote.

In a social media video Ms Mordaunt, a 49-year-old naval reservist from Portsmouth, is shown pulling pints and playing pool.

It is believed many of the undecided would prefer the former prime minister ahead of the ex-chancellor, who lost the grassroots ballot to Ms Truss last month and as a billionaire banker is battling a reputation for being out of touch with ordinary Britons.

Former home secretary Priti Patel has endorsed Mr Johnson, but some of his previous high- profile backers, such as Health Secretary Robert Jenrick, have pulled their support because some of the serious issues that engulfed his premiership are still to be resolved. The parliamentary standards committee is to start calling evidence about Partygate – the breaking of Covid rules at Downing Street during the pandemic – next month.

“Boris defeated Jeremy Corbyn, got Brexit across the line, marshalled us through the pandemic and led Europe’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He will go down in history as a consequential leader who got the big calls right,’’ Mr Jenrick said.

“However, we should not forget that 43 days ago the party ­removed Boris Johnson as serious issues engulfed his premiership. Some of these remain unresolved. Given the breadth and scale of the international and domestic challenges facing the country there can be no more distractions.”

Trade Secretary Greg Hands also said supporting Mr Johnson would be a retrograde step.

“Some of my colleagues think he could win a 2024 general election. But if you can’t form a workable, effective and stable government, you’ll never get to 2023, let alone 2024,” he said.

“There are many other good reasons why Boris would be the wrong choice.”

Many of the Red Wall MPs, elected in 2019, continue to support him, believing he is the only leader that can successfully challenge Labour leader Keir Starmer at the next general election, due by 2025. One of those MPs, Lee ­Anderson said he had spoken to Mr Johnson.

“We have had a long chat about everything past and present,” Mr Anderson said.

“My inbox is full of BBB (bring back Boris). I am drawing a line under it, Boris has my support.’’

The Tories are being hammered in the polls and if an election were held now they would not only be thrashed by Labour but would end up with fewer seats than the Liberal Democrats.