Boris Johnson, the man ousted as UK prime minister by his own government just three months ago, has emerged as an early front-runner to be the next prime minister.

His replacement Liz Truss crashed and burned after 45 days in the job, announcing her resignation after being forced to ditch most of her policy programme after it spooked the financial markets.

A second Johnson premiership would be an extraordinary turnaround even for a politician who has made miraculous comebacks before.

No one has returned as prime minister after resigning as leader since William Gladstone 140 years ago.

Mr Johnson won a landslide election victory in 2019 – but was forced out by his own MPs after three years in office, following a string of scandals. Under the British constitution, the ruling party can change leaders between general elections.

His final months office were dogged by accusations he broke ministerial rules by not telling the truth about Covid lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street.

He remains under investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Committee, which in theory could lead to him being suspended from Parliament, or even being kicked out as an MP.

The committee could hold televised evidence sessions in the coming weeks – even calling Mr Johnson to respond in person. Mr Johnson’s supporters have dismissed the committee’s investigation as a “witch hunt”.

The prospect of Johnson’s return to Downing Street has been met with horror by some Conservatives. Former leader Lord Hague warned it could lead to a “death spiral” for the Conservative Party.

Foreign Office Minister Jesse Norman said Mr Johnson returning as prime minister would be an “absolutely catastrophic decision” while Tory MP Sir Roger Gale has said he would quit the party.

But Mr Johnson’s supporters, including cabinet members Jacob Rees-Mogg and Anne-Marie Trevelyan, and former home secretary Priti Patel, say he is the only contender with the backing of the voting public after winning the 2019 general election. They believe can win the next election for the party too, despite the Labour Party’s current commanding poll leads.

Will Boris Johnson return?

Mr Johnson has yet to officially announce he will stand. The only contender to break cover so far is cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt who came third in the last leadership election.

In his final appearance at Prime Minister’s Questions in July this year, Mr Johnson made it clear that he was planning a comeback.

He signed off with “hasta la vista, baby”. He could only have dropped a heavier hint that he was not finished yet if he had used another catchphrase from the Terminator films: “I’ll be back.”