Steve Baker backs Sunak

What a year it’s been for Steve Baker. Fresh from leading rebellions over Brexit and Covid, the Wycombe MP joined the revolt against Boris Johnson, briefly mulled a bid to replace him before getting on board the Truss train, becoming a Northern Ireland minister and issuing an apology for the UK’s behaviour in Brexit. Now, he’s back at the centre of it all again, using an appearance on Sky today to come out and back Rishi Sunak.

He told Sophy Ridge that Boris Johnson would be ‘guaranteed disaster’ because of the investigation into whether he misled Commons: ‘It’s a guaranteed nailed on failure. We cannot allow it to happen. I’m not willing to lay down my integrity.’ Baker added that ‘If Boris is in charge his premiership will implode and we’ll be back here… it’s just too easy for his opponents to absolutely make hay over this.’

While Baker’s wariness of a Johnson restoration is no surprise, it is interesting that such a key figure within the European Research Group is willing to support Sunak.