Boris Johnson’s Eleventh-Hour Rally

In a dramatic appeal to voters, Boris Johnson, the former prime minister, joined forces with Rishi Sunak in a rally, just two days before the polling stations open their doors. Responding to Mr. Sunak’s call to arms, Mr. Johnson galvanized the party faithful on Tuesday night. Critics, however, labeled this move as a “desperate last-ditch effort” in the Conservatives’ frantic push before the break of Thursday’s polling day.

Mr. Johnson, in his speech, issued a warning about a potential Labour supermajority and branded Nigel Farage of Reform UK as a “Kremlin ally”. In his first live speech of the election, Mr. Johnson declared, “Have extra thousands to spare? Cast your vote for Labour. Yearn for open borders, enforced modernism, and a return to Brussels’ dominance? Vote Starmer to make my day.”

He continued, “We cannot stand idle while a Labour government prepares to use a sledgehammer majority to destroy much of what we have achieved.” Paraphrasing Winston Churchill, he added, “Success is not the end, failure is not fatal: It’s the courage to keep going that matters.”

During the Tory re-election campaign, Rishi Sunak expressed gratitude to his predecessor for his support. Boris Johnson, in his address, subtly recognized Sunak and highlighted the threats posed by Tory adversaries.

After Boris Johnson’s address, Minister Huw Merriman hinted at withdrawing his support for the party. Merriman voiced his doubts about X, questioning the allure of Johnson’s leadership. The rest of the copy includes a range of reactions to Johnson’s speech and its potential influence on the imminent election. As political commentator George Will once said, “The future has a way of arriving unannounced.” This quote adds a layer of uncertainty and anticipation to the upcoming election.