Priti Patel adds name to Boris Johnson supporters as ex-PM prepares bid for return to No 10

Former prime minister expected to launch campaign after return from Caribbean holiday

Andrew Woodcock

Political Editor

Saturday 22 October 2022 06:19 EDT

Comments

Boris Johnson's plane arrives at Gatwick amid Tory leadership race

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Former home secretary Priti Patel has become the latest high-profile Conservative to throw her weight behind Boris Johnson’s bid to return as prime minister.

Ms Patel announced in a tweet that she believes the former PM has a mandate to govern from the 2019 general election and a “proven track record getting the big decisions right”.

Her endorsement brought to 58 Mr Johnson total of publicly declared nominations from MPs, as he nears on the 100 threshold required to join the race to succeed Liz Truss as Conservative leader.

Front-runner Rishi Sunak is understood to have passed the 100 milestone with two days to go to the 2pm Monday deadline. Leader of the Commons Penny Mordaunt, the only contender officially to have declared her candidacy, is lagging behind on 22.

Ms Patel was home secretary throughout Mr Johnson’s first period in office from 2019-22, but was not invited to join Ms Truss’s government.

She said: “Boris has the mandate to deliver our elected manifesto and a proven track record getting the big decisions right. I’m backing him in the leadership contest.”

Mr Johnson already has the backing of cabinet ministers Jacob Rees-Mogg, Ben Wallace, Simon Clarke, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Alok Sharma and Chris Heaton-Harris, as well as former culture secretary Nadine Dorries.

Mr Sunak meanwhile has the declared support of former cabinet ministers including Sajid Javid, Dominic Raab, Matt Hancock, Oliver Dowden, Robert Jenrick, Liam Fox and Gavin Williamson as well as senior serving ministers Tom Tugendhat and Chris Philp.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies