In his last week as prime minister, Boris Johnson today set off on a farewell tour of Britain but would not rule out a political return.
Mr. Johnson refused to comment when asked what he will do after leaving Number 10 in a week on a trip to north Dorset.
It has lately been claimed that the departing PM is holding out hope for an immediate comeback to the political scene.
Additionally, there have been rumors that he would try to make a significant intervention as early as the Conservative Party convention in October.
However, Mr. Johnson missed a chance to outline his future ambitions when speaking to reporters at a location where gigabit-capable internet is being deployed as part of a £5 billion government initiative.
Voters were “more interested in their gigabit internet than they are in the destiny of this or that person,” the PM asserted.
Boris Johnson declined to answer questions on what he would do when leaves Number 10 in a week’s time
The PM visited a north Devon site where gigabit-capable broadband is being rolled out as part of a £5billion Government scheme
Mr Johnson was joined on his trip to the South West by Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, who has been one of his loyalist supporters
When the PM and Ms. Dorries visited Henbury Farm, they both climbed into the cab of a mole plough.
The Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries accompanied Mr. Johnson on his journey to north Devon, which marked the beginning of what is anticipated to be a series of trips by the PM around the UK during his last days in office.
The PM is scheduled to use his farewell trip this week to highlight his administration’s work in delivering on other Tory manifesto commitments, such as increasing police numbers, in addition to praising the success his Government has made in bringing out gigabit internet.
This afternoon, Mr. Johnson made a conscious effort to withhold any information about his plans for life beyond Number 10, including whether he was eager to make a return, if he would be content with a seat on the Tory back benches, or whether he would consider quitting politics completely.
I believe people are more interested in their gigabit bandwidth than they are in the future of this or that politician, in my opinion – I respectfully propose to you, you may disagree if you want – he stated.
My responsibility, which I’ve done with great pride over the last five years, is to follow through on my commitments.
“I promised that we will work to get up to 85% gigabit broadband or 100% gigabit internet.” Despite Covid, we increased from 7% when I began to 70% in only three years. That’s not awful at all, in my opinion.
Mr. Johnson also refused to assign himself a rating of 10 for his performance as prime minister.
It has recently been suggested the outgoing PM is harbouring hopes of a swift return to the political frontline.
Mr Johnson today insisted that voters were ‘more interested in their gigabit broadband than they are in the fate of this or that politician’
This week, during his last days in office, the PM is anticipated to make a number of trips around the UK.
Finding a new home was one of Mr. Johnson’s first priorities after being ejected from No. 10 by a Tory uprising last summer. According to recent rumors, he and his wife Carrie are reportedly hunting for a new house in Herne Hill, a neighborhood in south London.
In the end, a dispute started by claims of improper behavior made by former Tory deputy chief whip Chris Pincher led to the PM’s demise.
When asked whether he regretted the way misconduct claims had been handled, Mr. Johnson said, “All those things have to be handled properly and compassionately and we have systems for dealing with them, and individuals who have concerns should raise them in the regular manner.”
On Monday, the next Tory leader will be unveiled as either Foreign Secretary Liz Truss or ex-chancellor Rishi Sunak.
On Tuesday, they are thereafter anticipated to be officially installed as the next PM.
An influential opponent of Mr. Johnson yesterday said that the departing PM will attempt a “populist” comeback like to that of Silvio Berlusconi of Italy.
Former Cabinet member Rory Stewart said that Mr. Johnson would be aiming for a second term at Number 10 because of his “huge ego.”
The former Tory MP advised Mr. Johnson to attempt to emulate Mr. Berlusconi, the divisive leader who served three times as Italy’s prime minister despite ongoing scandals like the “bunga bunga” sex parties.