The likelihood of a Boris Johnson comeback

There’s been plenty of drama in Westminster this week with Keir Starmer reshuffling his No. 10 team and the Tories’ game-playing in the party’s leadership contest. But away from parliament, the other big story in domestic politics has been the return of Boris Johnson.

The former prime minister has been on a publicity trail to promote his memoir Unleashed (as reviewed by Michael Gove in this week’s magazine). Johnson has given multiple interviews in his quest for book sales. The top lines so far include his regret that he apologised over partygate and his defence of his decision to give his aide Charlotte Owen a peerage (thereby making her the youngest member of the House of Lords). Johnson has also gone on the attack over Keir Starmer and his penchant for freebies, accusing him of ‘looking greedy’.

But the big question being asked among Tory MPs is whether Johnson is simply interested in getting his version of history out there (and making some money in the process) or if this is part of a wider effort to return to the political fold.