Tories preparing Boris Johnson's return to Parliament

By James Kirkup, Deputy Political Editor

Mr Johnson, currently Mayor of London, could become an MP again “in weeks” if David Cameron fails to win a significant Conservative majority in 2015, a well-placed source said.

Despite his frequent and colourful denials of any leadership ambitions, Mr Johnson’s career is the subject of persistent speculation at Westminster.

Some Conservative MPs regard him as a more effective advocate of traditional Tory values than Mr Cameron. Polls also suggest that Mr Johnson is a more popular figure among voters.

Tory rules dictate that only sitting MPs can stand for the party leadership and Mr Johnson gave up his Henley seat to become mayor in 2008.

Mr Johnson was re-elected in London this year, and has promised to serve his full four-year term.

Some Conservatives predict that Mr Johnson will seek to return to the Commons at the 2015 election -- or even before it – in order to give himself the option of being a candidate.

But a senior party figure close to the Mayor told the Daily Telegraph that Mr Johnson is more likely to wait to see the result of the election first.

“There is absolutely no need for Boris to show his hand so quickly. He can wait for the result and play it by ear,” the source said.

If Mr Cameron fails to win the election, he would almost certainly be removed by Conservative MPs, he added.

Mr Cameron’s leadership would also be vulnerable to a challenge if he won only a slim Tory majority.

In either case, Mr Johnson could attempt a swift return to the Commons.

“Getting a seat is no problem for Boris. There are several he can have whenever he wants,” the source said.

“It wouldn’t take long at all. It could be done in weeks, if it was necessary.”

Earlier this year, it was reported that Zac Goldsmith, the Tory MP for Richmond upon Thames, had offered to give up his seat to allow Mr Johnson to replace him.

However, Mr Goldsmith has only a 4,000-vote majority over the Liberal Democrats, and the mayor’s ally said he was much more likely to opt for a much safer Tory seat.

Mr Johnson has repeatedly insisted that he has no ambition to replace Mr Cameron in Downing Street, and predicted that his fellow Old Etonian will lead the Conservatives to a decisive victory in 2015.

In a US television interview earlier this year, Mr Johnson dismissed questions about his prime ministerial prospects.

“My chances of being Prime Minister are about as good as the chances of finding Elvis on Mars, or my being reincarnated as an olive,” he said. Telegraph