Lord Howard warns against Johnson return, saying: ‘Boris had his chance and blew it’

Lord Michael Howard has warned against the return of Boris Johnson as the next Tory Party leader saying he “had his chance and he blew it.”

The Jewish former Conservative leader made clear his objection to the return of Johnson as the struggling Tories new prime minister in a series of media interviews he gave in the wake of the resignation of Liz Truss.

Howard – who had previously supported Rishi Sunak’s bid to lead the party – told both Bloomberg and ITV’s Good Morning Britain show:”I do not think Boris should return – Boris had his chance and he blew it.”

After Thursday’s resignation of Truss, Sir Graham Brady announced that candidates to succeed her had until Monday to secure the nomination of at least 100 Tory MPs.

In a fast-tracked contest a new PM declared within a week, with the decision in the hands of Tory MPs and possibly the party members.

Johnson was said to be flying home from a holiday in the Caribbean to prepare to announce he was standing again.

Both ex chancellor Sunak and Penny Mordaunt are also seen as contenders.

Asked on GMB if he felt Johnson would be a “shoo in” to win the contest, Lord Howard added:”No,I don’t think anybody’s going to be a shoo in.

“I am afraid despite the engaging plea we have had from Boris’s father Stanley …. he wasn’t able to retain the confidence of Conservative members of parliament, he lost their confidence.

“Boris undoubtedly has many talents, but I don’t think we should go back to Boris.”

Asked he could foresee there  being a “Boris Rishi ticket” with the later named returning as chancellor, Howard said:”I would have thought this extremely unlikely.”