Is it a comeback, or just a fantasy? Is it in the “national interest,” or in personal ambition only momentarily thwarted?

Whatever it is, it’s apparently on like Donkey Kong now that Liz Truss has resigned as UK PM, according to the Times of London’s Ragip Soylu. Once-and-future-PM Boris Johnson is already taking “soundings” and lining up support now that Truss’ government has collapsed:

BREAKING: Boris Johnson is expected to stand in the contest to replace Liz Truss as PM and believes it is a matter of “national interest” — The Times

— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) October 20, 2022

Boris Johnson is expected to stand in the contest to replace Liz Truss and believes it is a matter of “national interest”, The Times has been told.

The former prime minister, who only left office six weeks ago, is taking soundings from friends but is said to believe he can turn the Conservative Party around. Several Tory MPs are already suggesting that he should replace Truss, who quit this afternoon after 44 days in office. …

Priti Patel, the former home secretary, is expected to support Johnson. Her successor, Suella Braverman, is thinking about running from the Conservative right after quitting as home secretary yesterday. Jeremy Hunt, the moderate new chancellor, has ruled himself out.

The Express, which may have been the first British newspaper to raise the prospect of a Boris 2.0 comeback, reports that not everyone has forgotten nor forgiven Truss’ predecessor. A few Tory MPs are already signaling opposition, with one calling it “fantasy”:

However, some MPs have expressed doubt on the likelihood of Mr Johnson’s leadership campaign succeeding.

Tory MP Sir Robert Syms described his leadership bid as a “fantasy”.

He added: “The number for nomination will be lifted to limit runners and there will be massive pressure on the 2nd candidate in MPs ballot to drop out”.

If one trusts the betting markets, though, Johnson has made a sudden jump today to become nearly the favorite. CityAM notes that odds on a Johnson win — if he chooses to contest it — went from long-shot to pole position immediately after Truss’ resignation:

Johnson is currently on holiday in the Caribbean with his family, however he soon may be jetting back to prepare for next week’s contest.

He has been backed in from 20/1 to 3/1 with Ladbrokes to be the next Prime Minister.

Tory MP James Duddridge today tweeted: “I hope you enjoyed your holiday boss. Time to come back. Few issues at the office that need addressing.”

Tory backbencher Paul Bristow also told Sky News that he would also back Johnson if he runs.

Part of that may be a leftover from Truss’ utter failure, which might implicate everyone else in the previous leadership race. All of them are unknown quantities as party leader; for all his flaws, Johnson has a resumé of success at that level, including a massive national-election win. What Tory MPs want most of all is to get this leadership turmoil behind them so that they can (a) govern, and (b) set themselves up for the next elections. There’s little to suggest that Truss’ challengers in the previous cycle can deliver that in the much-more complicated economic and security environment that tripped up Truss. Johnson may be a relatively safe fall-back position, as well as a convenient scapegoat for any backlash over the coming tough choices on economic policy.

At the very least, Johnson had set the right tone on security before his personal-behavior (excuse me, behaviour) scandals took him down. That may well be the “national interest” Johnson will push in this dangerous European moment with Russia, and it may be excuse enough to get Tories to allow him back into 10 Downing. For a while, anyway. Stay tuned.