Former British prime minister Boris Johnson gestures as he endorses British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at a campaign event during a Conservative general election campaign event in London, Britain, July 2, 2024. — Reuters
LONDON: Ex-prime minister Boris Johnson made an unexpected showing in the British election campaign on Tuesday, launching a final push to drum up support for the Conservatives and their leader Rishi Sunak, the man who played a part in his removal from office.
Johnson secured a large majority in the previous election in 2019 before being compelled to step down in 2022 by a Conservative revolt that Sunak helped initiate, revealing deep rifts in the ruling party, particularly between Sunak and Johnson.
Met with chants of “Boris! Boris!” from party backers two days before an election the Conservatives are forecast to lose badly, he introduced the current prime minister at a campaign event in London.
In a speech highlighting many of his own accomplishments, Johnson offered little personal endorsement of Sunak but stressed what he claimed were the risks of the opposition Labour Party gaining power.
“None of us can stand by as a Labour government prepares to use a crushing majority to undo so much of what we have achieved,” he stated.
Admitting that some might find his presence surprising, he said he was happy to help when asked by Sunak. “Of course I couldn’t refuse,” he added.
“Whatever our disagreements they are completely insignificant compared to the crisis we might face if these so-called opinion polls are accurate,” Johnson said.
This is what unites us.
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) July 3, 2024
We need to stop the Labour supermajority that will put up your taxes.
The only way to do that is to vote Conservative tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/qxlt3T8O1K
Johnson, one of British politics’ most well-known figures and a proven vote-winner, has been largely absent from the campaign trail, having left frontline politics in 2023. He has backed individual candidates in video messages but hasn’t previously shown up at major campaign events.
Sunak, who spoke after – but not alongside – Johnson on the stage, thanked his predecessor.
“Isn’t it wonderful to have our Conservative family united, my friends?” he said.
Also Read |UK General Elections 2024: Key Figures Including Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer”
