Boris Johnson has set tongues wagging with a tantalising hint that he could make a return to front-line politics, declaring that all effective politicians need a “cockroach-like” drive to survive.
The former Prime Minister, known for his resilience and flair for a dramatic comeback, suggested he may not be done with public life just yet.
In a revealing interview with Times Radio this morning, Mr Johnson refused to rule out the possibility of a future return to the political stage. When pressed on whether he might make a comeback, he cryptically responded: “The real answer is what Her Maj the Queen said, and I can say that without breaching any confidence; you should only do things if you think you can be useful.”
But when asked if this meant he believed he could no longer be of service, Mr Johnson left the door wide open: “I’m not saying that.”
Drawing on his characteristic flair for metaphor, he elaborated: “For politicians to be effective, they must be like wasps in a jam jar. They’ve got to want continually, cockroach-like, to survive and to continue. That’s not necessarily a despicable thing from the point of view of the electorate because we all need people who really, really want to do their best for us.”
The comments come as Mr Johnson makes the rounds to promote his latest book, Unleashed, but his remarks have certainly unleashed speculation about a future in politics. Despite a turbulent exit from Downing Street, it seems the former PM might still have his eye on a comeback.
His metaphor of the “wasp in a jam jar” and comparison to the indestructible cockroach may raise eyebrows, but they speak to his reputation as a fighter—someone not easily swatted away from the political fray. It’s a trait that helped him weather many storms throughout his career.
Whether or not he will indeed attempt to return to the political arena remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Boris Johnson is far from fading into the background. For those who thought they’d seen the last of him, it may just be that the “wasp in a jam jar” is not yet ready to rest.
And remember, he once likened himself to Cincinnatus, returning to his plough when he left office. However, it seems he’s not quite ready to keep tilling the fields just yet. Perhaps, like the Roman statesman, he’s just waiting for the next call to return to the city and save the day. After all, why settle for the plough when there might be one more shot at the helm?
Main Photo: Picture by Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
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