James Cleverly says he would be ‘comfortable’ with Boris Johnson serving in a Liz Truss Cabinet if he wants to after ‘political bruising’ – as PM’s allies continue to press for him to be allowed to stay on in No10
- Education Secretary did not rule out backing PM to return to Cabinet
- Said he would be ‘comfortable’ if Ms Truss was with him returning
- Mr Johnson is due to step down in September after a sleaze-ravaged premiership
A senior minister said he would be ‘comfortable’ with Boris Johnson returning to Government after quitting Downing Street.
Education Secretary James Cleverly said he does not rule out supporting the outgoing PM returning to a ministry but that it is not a decision for him to take.
Mr Johnson is due to step down in September when either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak replaces him.
But he has so far remained silent on what he plans to do afterwards.
A small hardcore of loyalists is also agitating for him to be allowed to run against the two, advocating for a rule change to add him to the current ballot.
Asked on Sky News if Mr Johnson should get a senior role in Government, Mr Cleverly said: ‘He’s an incredibly talented politician. Whether he would want to serve after the bruising that he’s got at moment that might be another matter, but it’s not for me to start dictating to Liz (Truss) who she puts into her Cabinet.’
He added: ‘I would be comfortable if she is.’
Education Secretary James Cleverly said he does not rule out supporting the outgoing PM returning to a ministry but that it is not a decision for him to take.
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Mr Johnson is due to step down in September when either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak replaces him. But he has so far remained silent on what he plans to do afterwards.
However other ministers have suggested Mr Johnson should not return to Government.
Sir Robert Buckland, the Welsh Secretary, told the Telegraph it was time for ‘a new chapter for him and a new chapter for the Conservative Party’.
Asked about a return to the Cabinet, he added: ‘It is unlikely. In modern politics, there are very few, if any, second chances. We’ve turned a page.’
On Friday it was revealed Mr Johnson thinks he will return as Prime Minister next year even though he only resigned less than three weeks ago.
The PM announced he would step down on July 7 after 57 ministers resigned from the Government in just 48 hours following the Chris Pincher scandal.
However, he has been privately saying he will make a comeback to Downing Street as soon as next year, according to his former aide Tim Montgomerie.
Mr Montgomerie, who became critical of Mr Johnson after he left his employment around the end of 2019, said: ‘Boris is telling aides that he’ll be PM again within a year.’
It is not the first time rumours of a second Mr Johnson premiership have surfaced.
He bowed out of his final Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) last Wednesday, telling MPs: ‘Hasta la vista, baby’.
His very final words were an apparent reference to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s catchphrase from the film Terminator, which is also famous for the line ‘I’ll be back’.
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