Conservative MP James Duddridge on Friday told the PA news agency that Johnson messaged him saying: “We are going to do this. I’m up for it.”
Meanwhile, former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, whose resignation was instrumental in triggering the unravelling of Johnson’s government, is believed to have become the first to secure more than 100 supporters among Conservative MPs—over the threshold of nomination, according to former Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.
But Neither Johnson nor Sunak has formally declared they were running.
Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt, who finished third during the last leadership contest, became the first to declare candidacy on Friday.
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman said on Friday that she would make a statement “in due course” when asked whether she would throw her hat in the ring again.
During the last leadership race, Braverman finished sixth with 27 votes.
Potential candidates have until Monday to secure their nomination. With 357 Conservative MPs in Parliament, there will be a maximum of three candidates. MPs will then vote on Monday to eliminate one of them if necessary, leaving two final candidates for the party members to choose from.
Wallace told broadcasters on Friday that he currently “lean[s] towards Boris Johnson,” citing his record of winning a general election and investment in defence.
Former Home Secretary Priti Patel, former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, Cop26 president Alok Sharma, and Levelling Up Secretary are among those who publicly declared support for Johnson.
Declaring her support on Twitter, Patel said Johnson “has the mandate to deliver our elected manifesto and a proven track record getting the big decisions right.”
But the former prime minister still has a parliamentary investigation hanging above his head over whether he had misled Parliament with his statements regarding Partygate.
Johnson received a fine following the police’s Partygate investigation, for breaching COVID-19 restrictions during an office birthday party for him.
The Liberal Democrats have launched a bid to block Johnson from returning to No 10 Downing Street by bringing forward a motion that seeks to stop MPs found to have broken the law while in government from getting into No 10.
Sunak also received a fine for participating in the same birthday party.
Raab said on Saturday that he’s supporting Sunak, telling BBC Radio 4’s “Today” programme that Sunak has “the right plan to restore financial stability to the UK economy” and can “rebuild trust and confidence in the government.”
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Chris Philp, Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan, and former cabinet ministers Sajid Javid, Johnny Mercer, and George Eustice are among Sunak’s supporters.
Mordaunt on Saturday said the country needed a “fresh start.”
“The challenges facing the country are grave. Only with a fresh start, competent leadership, and a relentless focus on the people of the UK, can we address these issues head on.” the former defence secretary wrote on Twitter.
Conservative MP Bob Seely on Thursday said Mordaunt has “a great set of qualities ... lots of ministerial experience ... and she resonates with people.”
“Right now when we are facing a couple of international crises, both in energy, but also in the Ukraine war, having somebody with stature, with government experience, who can resonate with people, I think is really important,” he said.
MPs Neil Hudson, Harriett Baldwin, Nicola Richards, and former business secretary Andrea Leadsom have also declared their support for Mordaunt.
