Boris Johnson returns to UK boasting he's 'ready for' PM - but could be out by Christmas

Boris Johnson faces being kicked out of No 10 by Christmas as he tries to make a shock return as Prime Minister, the Tories have been warned.

The disgraced ex-leader returns from his Caribbean lounge chair, threatening to launch an extraordinary new bid for power just weeks after he was forced out of office.

A friend of Boris Johnson told the Mirror on Friday night: 'He's whatsapping MPs: 'I'm coming back, we'll do it, I'm in.'

He was later spotted on a flight from the Dominican Republic - where he was allegedly booed as he settled in for the long-haul trip in costume.

Mr. Johnson had about half of the 100 backers he needed Saturday morning, while Rishi Sunak had already crossed the threshold.

With rumors of a pact to stop one of the two men from voting, Mr Johnson's critics doubted he would cross the threshold. "There is a ceiling," said one - after dozens of MPs called on him to resign just months ago.

Boris Johnson soaked up the sun as chaos engulfed the Conservative Party

A friend said the ex-PM's chances hinged on what right-wingers like Suella Braverman decide to do.

They claimed, "It's going to reach 100. The question will be who's behind the right. I have a feeling they won't reach 100. Otherwise a lot of the votes on the right will go to Boris."

But Boris Johnson's former stalwart ally Dominic Raab - who now backs Rishi Sunak - threw a hand grenade at the ex-PM's chances.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today program 'I think he can get back to frontline politics' - but not so long as he will have to face court hearings over whether he has lied to Parliament.

"I just don't see in practice how a new Prime Minister could give the country the attention, the attention it needs" during the Privileges Committee inquiry, Dominic Raab said.< /p>

"I don't see how you can reconcile returning to front-line politics with this committee looming and weighing" on him.

Mr. Raab added, "We can't have another episode of Groundhog Day, the soap opera, the board game. We have to move the country and the government forward."

Mr. Raab has not ruled out a discussion between Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson with the aim of uniting - possibly behind a candidate.

He said, "I don't know. I don't think there's been any yet. Rishi is talking to people all over the party and I'm sure he's ready to do that."< /p>

But he added that the privileges committee was a 'fundamental obstacle' - and it is understood that no talks were scheduled between the two men this morning.