Boris comeback hope quashed as Tories rule out ex-PM returning to his old seat
Question Time audience member makes Boris Johnson claim
One of the most touted Commons return hopes for Boris Johnson has been quashed after the local association signed off its long list of candidates without him on it.
Henley in Oxfordshire was Mr Johnson’s old parliamentary constituency before he departed the Commons in 2008 to take up the London mayoralty.
Prior to his resignation from the Commons there was widespread rumour he may carpetbag back to the constituency from his then-outer London seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip, given its much smaller majority and likelihood to turn Labour at the next General Election.
Even after being confirmed as the Uxbridge candidate in March, Mr Johnson’s spokesperson was repeatedly forced to deny rumours he could up sticks and move to the safe Tory seat.
The rumours were further set ablaze after Mr Johnson bought a mansion on the border of the Henley constituency with his wife Carrie, setting the pair back £3.8 million.
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However any lingering hopes of a return to the seat have now been extinguished after the local party confirmed its long list of candidates, with the former PM’s name absent.
A source in the local association has told the Express that the long list comprises of:
- William Hall, Chairman of the South Oxfordshire Conservative Association.
- Aphra Brandreth, Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Women’s Organisation.
- Lucy Demery, a managing director of Fintech Investment Banking.
- Neil Shastri-hurst, a barrister and army veteran.
Not only has Boris Johnson failed to make the list, Olympics rowing star James Cracknell, who announced in April he was gunning for the seat, has also been snubbed.
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The double Olympic gold medallist announced the push for a political career in April, telling the Sunday Express the town had a “special place” in his heart.
Despite senior Conservative sources telling the paper that his “rowing background” may help him secure the sought-after seat, it appears his political dreams have been scuttled.
A local source claimed Mr Cracknell is “pretty upset” by the news.
This month the Express revealed that prospective Tory candidates for Henley claimed they had been warned off applying for the seat as Mr Johnson was expected to stand there.
A prospective candidate said: “I was doing my paperwork and preparation on a list of seats I was panning on applying for, including Henley.
“I sent it for some advice to [a Tory grandee] and he came back quickly say ‘don’t bother with Henley, Boris is going there.'”
A second prospective candidate said: “Absolutely no point trying for Henley. Everyone knows it is Boris’ if he wants it.”
Despite the circumstances around Mr Johnson’s departure from No. 10 and Parliament, one MP said: “There is a very large section of the party in Henley that still love Boris”.
“They really like their big personality MPs there like him and Hezza (Michael Heseltine).”
If Mr Johnson does choose to return as an MP, the suspension and pass ban voted for by MPs following the Privileges Committee report will be waived.
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