Boris Johnson returns to UK as rival Rishi Sunak reaches 100 public backers | Tory leadership race

Boris Johnson landed back on British soil on Saturday morning as his prospective leadership rival Rishi Sunak became the first Tory leadership contender to reach 100 public endorsements from his fellow MPs.

A plane carrying Mr Johnson and his family arrived at London Gatwick at around 10.17am as calls grew from backbenchers for him to formally declare a run.

Leadership hopefuls require 100 nominations, which can be private or public, from Tory MPs by 2pm on Monday if they are to proceed to a second round of voting among the party membership.

Mr Sunak is the current frontrunner to succeed Liz Truss as prime minister but has yet to announce his candidacy.

It came as Priti Patel, the former home secretary, backed Boris Johnson to become the next Conservative leader and prime minister.

Her intervention is all the more significant after she did not publicly endorse anyone in the previous Conservative leadership contest this summer.

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