Former Tory chief executive brands those backing Boris’ return ‘delusional’

Sir Mick Davis has warned against the return of Boris Johnson to Downing Street as he issued a broader attack on “delusional” politicians in the Tory ranks who put career ambition before the interests of the party. 

The former Conservative Party CEO, who revolutionised the party’s election processes during two years in the job until 2019, rarely makes public statements on the state of the party he is a major donor to. But stressing the party is now “riven” with ideological divisions, he uses a Sunday Times article today to warn MPs of dire electoral consequences if they choose to bring back the former prime minister.

Drawing on recent polling suggesting Johnson comfortably trails Rishi Sunak among the general public, he wrote: “In February, polling revealed that there was not a constituency in the land in which Boris Johnson enjoyed a favourable popularity rating.

“It was this hard fact, together with mismanagement, misjudgments and a clear perception that he is no slave to the truth, that lost him the confidence of his parliamentary colleagues, his cabinet and a string of junior ministers, and he lost office as a result. The idea that he can form a stable government and that next time round can be better is delusional.”

He also hinted at a wider malaise within the party – suggesting that the Conservative’s needed to remember its unparalleled success at the polls had not come via ideological dogmatism. Sir Mick, who previously headed the Jewish Leadership Council, also echoed the sentiments of Sir Charles Walker on the lack of talent among some of those who pushed themselves forward for office.

“Too many MPs have ditched the interests of the nation and the party in favour of their own career progression. Being prime minister is the hardest job in the country, requiring a complex and unusual blend of skills and experience. Far too many politicians with neither are deluded enough to believe the role is their destiny. They use leadership contests as a stepping-stone towards that belief.”

He called for a leader capable of assembling a cabinet that rewards the most talented from across the party rather than the most ambitious and “rebuilds our credibility as the party that offers not sweeping and grand fantasy economics” but solutions to better peoples lives.

Sir Mick also suggested that inspiration for the future may come from the way in which Israeli politicians with very different views joined forces to create a period of relative stability for 18 months, even though another election is now days away.

He is among several Tory grandees, including long-term allies of the former PM, who have publicly come out against a second Johnson term.