In a bombshell interview on The Sun’s “Never Mind the Ballots,” former Prime Minister Boris Johnson dropped his clearest hint yet at a political comeback, admitting that he still holds onto ambitions for No. 10. Expressing regret over the missed opportunity to continue his leadership, Johnson cited advice from the late Queen Elizabeth: “Only get involved in this stuff if you think you could be useful.”
Reflecting on his turbulent exit, Johnson revealed he was blindsided by Tory MPs who he “never thought would do something so dumb.” He expressed frustration over their lack of support, insisting he was the man to lead the Tories to victory with tax cuts and an aggressive housing strategy. “I think I could have won the argument with the public,” he said, noting his dismay watching successor Rishi Sunak’s campaign and accusing Sunak of being “captured by the Treasury.”
Johnson’s remarks weren’t just about the past. He took aim at Labour’s leadership under Keir Starmer, accusing him of “bunging up taxes and bending to union demands,” while failing to produce a solid agenda. In a scathing critique of recent “freebie” controversies, Johnson questioned the Labour leader’s penchant for expensive gifts, asking, “How can he still wear those spectacles?”
Though Johnson admitted his handling of MPs contributed to his fall, he blamed the pandemic for limiting face-to-face connections with backbenchers, who he said were overwhelmed by social media attacks. Comparing his approach as Mayor of London, Johnson said he mistakenly believed his mandate alone would secure his tenure as PM.
With his memoir Unleashed on shelves, Johnson’s thoughts on the Treasury, Sunak, and his own tenure reflect a leader who isn’t ready to leave the political stage. The former PM, now unbound by office, looks poised to remain a figure in British politics, hinting that he may one day be back to “finish what we started.”
