Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak — two of the likely contenders in the race to become the United Kingdom’s next prime minister — have held face-to-face talks, according to media reports.
The meeting took place late on Saturday, the BBC and the Sunday Times reported, shortly after Johnson returned to London from a Caribbean holiday earlier in the day aiming to launch an audacious attempt to win a second term as prime minister, only weeks after he was forced to step down.
Neither of the men is yet to declare they will run to replace outgoing leader Liz Truss, who announced on Thursday she would stand down — just 44 tempestuous days into her tenure. The potential candidates have until 13:00 GMT on Monday to secure the backing of at least 100 Conservative Party legislators and enter the leadership race.
Few details have emerged about what The Sun dubbed a “secret summit” and the Sunday Times said was ongoing at close to 10:00pm (21:00 GMT). The Sunday Telegraph reported they were set to discuss “agreeing to a joint ticket” to avoid a Conservative Party “civil war”.
It is thought to be their first in-person discussions in months, following a spectacular falling out after Sunak’s resignation as finance minister in July helped trigger the government mutiny that ultimately prompted Johnson’s ousting.
Sunak is currently ahead in the race with the public backing of 128 legislators, compared with Johnson’s 53. Former Defence Minister Penny Mordaunt, who is the only Conservative Party member to formally declare her run, has about 23 nominations.