As one audience member in Cheltenham told the BBC Question Time panel that Boris Johnson is the only person with a mandate to be Prime Minister, it sparked a hilarious response from the man in front of him. He said: “Graham Stuart spoke in the beginning about wanting someone who can command a majority in the Commons and Jess Phillips said they need a proper mandate. There’s only one man who has got both of those boxes ticked and that’s Boris Johnson. I think it’s clearly time for him to come back.”
The moment was shared on Twitter to the delight of viewers.
Geri Scott wrote: “One man on BBC Question Time says Boris Johnson is the only one with a mandate, man in front of him does a dramatic eye roll and seems to say ‘b******s’. It’s going to be a long week.”
While Kerry Gooderson added: “The guy in the glasses muttering ‘b******s’ is my new hero. What a legend.”
Matt Chorley noted: “Excellent mouthing of ‘b******s’ on Question Time.”
READ MORE: ‘Mr Johnson must be ruthlessly disciplined to be in leadership race’
Boris Johnson will need the support of at least 100 Tory MPs if he is to make a spectacular comeback to replace Liz Truss who quit as Tory leader after just 44 days in No 10.
Ms Truss’s resignation, signaling the end of the shortest term by any prime minister, followed a botched financial statement, the loss of two of her most senior Cabinet ministers and an open revolt by Tory MPs.
The Conservatives will now scramble to elect a replacement by the end of next week.
Allies of former leader Mr Johnson pushed for him to make a return, less than two months after leaving office, while Rishi Sunak, who defeated Ms Truss among MPs in the last contest, is widely expected to stand.
“He is a known winner and that is certainly who I’m putting my name against because I want us to win the general election. Having a winner in place is what the party needs to survive,” she told Sky News.
Trade minister Sir James Duddridge said he hoped Mr Johnson had enjoyed his holiday but it was “time to come back” as there were a “few issues at the office that needed addressing”.
But in a sign of how divisive the former premier is, Tory veteran Sir Roger Gale pointed out Mr Johnson was still being investigated for potentially lying to MPs over the partygate scandal.
“Until that investigation is complete and he is found guilty or cleared, there should be no possibility of him returning to government,” Sir Roger said.
