Well this is awkward. Nadhim Zahawi article backing Boris Johnson is published at 9pm - 2 mins after he put out a statement saying he was pulling out of the race.

Hi Brendan Clarke-Smith MP do you want picking up in morning pal?

So Boris Johnson was lying about having 100 MPs backing him.

What a massive surprise.

The Tories have a majority of 67.

If 34 of them refused to support the new leader, the Tories would not be able to command a majority and form a government - and it would trigger a General Election.

If Boris Johnson becomes leader again, this is a very, very real possibility.

Boris Johnson claims he now has 100 Tory MPs backing him for the leadership.

Imo it’s yet more bullshit from the country’s most famous bullshitter.

But if it is true - LMFAO! Because the Conservative Party will end up destroying itself, and I for one will savour every moment!

41 Tory MPs have backed Boris Johnson for the Tory leadership.

26 of them also backed Liz Truss for the leadership.

Let’s play leadership scenarios. Sunak gets on the ballot with most support, around 140. Johnson and Mordaunt get over 100. In a vote Mordaunt is eliminated. In the indicative run off Sunak wins 230:140. The members then choose Johnson. And the Truss fiasco repeats by Christmas.

Boris Johnson was absent for every single House of Commons vote of Liz Truss’s premiership.

It is a staggering fact that this government refuses to let unions use online ballots and yet the next PM may well be chosen by an online ballot of Tory members. That is total hypocrisy

New - I'm told by senior Conservatives that there are MPs talking about triggering by-elections if Boris Johnson is serious about standing to be leader again. I've heard from MPs tempted to, and gathering evidence of defections and resignations in the event of his return.

Liz Truss You’ve got some stiff competition, but we just know you can become the worst Prime Minister ever.

. Liz Truss omg just heard there’s a leadership election nxt week????? u shud run babe youd be perfect!!! 💝💫💥

The debacle of Liz Truss’ short-lived premiership is a symptom of a broken economic system and a trashed democracy.

We will continue to lurch from crisis to crisis — and ordinary people will pay the price — until we finally build a society for the many, not the few.

The Conservative Party imposed one of the worst Prime Ministers the country has ever seen on the country without a General Election.

And now, they want a chance to do it all again.

We can’t go on like this.

#GeneralElectionNow

Prediction:

- Rishi Sunak will become Tory leader.

- He’ll come under huge pressure to call a General Election

- He’ll announce a General Election to be held next summer - a move which placates the public and gives him 6 months or so to try and rebuild terrible Tory polling