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In Britain, talk of Boris Johnson’s return to No 10 before he’s even left

  • UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, due to leave office in September, has repeatedly signalled that his political career isn’t over
  • Johnson’s allies and enemies talk about a possible Johnson return, even as two contenders campaign to replace him as premier

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson outside 10 Downing Street, London. Photo: AP
Hilary Clarkein London

He may be down and almost out, but the UK’s outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson seems determined to show he is not ready to ride off into the sunset.

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In his typical theatrical style, Johnson ended his last appearance in parliament as prime minister last week by declaring: “Mission largely accomplished – for now” and “Hasta la vista, baby”, borrowing Arnold Schwarzenegger’s catchphrase from the 1991 movie Terminator 2: Judgement Day.

Scandal-hit Johnson resigned as Conservative Party leader earlier this month, officially starting the countdown to the end of his premiership.

But Johnson’s allies and enemies are already talking about a possible Johnson sequel, even before he’s left Downing Street where he has lived and worked for three years.

Until that departure in September it’s business as usual for 58-year-old Johnson, who’s spending his final six weeks as caretaker prime minister enjoying the ride.

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In recent days, Johnson has taken a flight in a RAF Typhoon fighter jet and visited Ukrainian troops being trained at a British military base in North Yorkshire, where he was photographed in a camouflage jacket inspecting an assortment of weapons.
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