He Couldn't Could He... Will Boris Bounce Back To No10?

As Truss quits...the BIG question is: Can ex-PM get enough MPs to back his return?

- Sam Lister

BORIS Johnson could be on the brink of a sensational comeback to No 10.

He is by far the favourite among grassroots Tories to take over from Liz Truss but his backers fear a "stitch-up" to stop his return to power.

Leadership hopefuls must secure the votes of 100 MPs by Monday afternoon to make it through to the final round.

Rishi Sunak and Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt topped the poll last time, when the resignation of Cabinet colleagues forced Mr Johnson out in July.

A source said: "It's a massive stitch-up. The rules are designed to keep Boris, Kemi [Badenoch] and Suella [Braverman] out.

"The 1922 Committee was very agitated towards Boris at the end.

They want the second candidate who makes it on to the list to drop out.

"But it would be a massive problem if Rishi, who was rejected by party members, ends up becoming Prime Minister without the support of the membership. They are playing with fire." A minister involved in the campaign to restore Mr Johnson as leader told the Daily Express that more than 50 MPS have already signed up.

He said: "We had 30 immediately and that has pretty much doubled. We are optimistic about getting past 100 by early next week." The campaign expects to be up against Mr Sunak in a final two and has high hopes of winning with the membership.