Boris Johnson believes Nigel Farage’s Reform UK will “self-destruct” before the next election, allies of the former Prime Minister have said. They added this could prompt the former No10 keyholder to return to politics to rescue the Tories.

Rumours about Mr Johnson’s return to politics have been revived following the Conservatives’ bruising performance at the local elections earlier this month. An ally said: “Boris is convinced that the wheels will come off the Reform bandwagon within three years – that they will be found wanting in the areas where they have won power, and voters will tire of all the fruitcakes and loonies they have in their ranks.

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“Then he would come back as leader, although the exact mechanism for that is unclear. It has to be said, however, that not all of his friends are convinced that Reform will be a flash in the pan”.

Mr Johnson continues to back Kemi Badenoch publicly but demotivated activists have started talking up his chances of a comeback after a poll last week found he was the only potential leader under whom the Conservatives would poll higher than Mr Farage’s party.

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“I agree Boris was treated badly but remember he was championing net zero and didn’t nothing on immigration.” 21

“Bring back the bumbling eco warrior johnson’ no thanks i’ll stick with reform.” 17

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The More in Common poll concluded that under Mr Johnson, the Tories would beat Reform by three points, with Labour in third. Under Mrs Badenoch, the party was placed eight points behind Reform.

Luke Tryl, of the polling firm, told the Mail on Sunday: “As the Conservatives grapple with their survival, it does seem Boris Johnson might be part of the answer. This polling and our focus groups show that Johnson is able to win over a chunk of the Reform voters that the party has lost since 2019 and potentially could stabilise the party on the Right.”

But Mr Tryl added: “He appears to be less able to make inroads with Labour and especially Lib-Dem voters, and his negatives here might make it hard for him to win an election.”

MPs ousted Mr Johnson in 2022 amid the Partygate saga and plummeting ratings.

A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: “As Boris said this week, he is strongly supporting Kemi Badenoch and campaigning for Ukrainian victory.”