Boris Johnson could “easily be the beneficiary” of a by-election in Runcorn and Helsby, according to Jacob Rees-Mogg.

The GB News presenter, who previously served in Johnson’s Cabinet, raised the prospect of an incredible political comeback for the ex-prime minister.

The jailing of ex-Labour MP Mike Amesbury for 10 weeks for assault means Sir Keir Starmer may face a by-election headache.

The 55-year-old now faces a recall petition, but he is also under mounting pressure to resign.

Jacob Rees-Mogg said Boris Johnson could be the beneficiary of a potential by-election

Speaking on the People’s Channel, Jacob threw Boris Johnson’s name into the pool of possible contenders for the seat which would be heavily targeted by Reform UK among others.

“He’d [Boris Johnson] win by a mile”, former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie claimed.

Boris Johnson resigned as an MP in 2023

He suggested voters will be rallying to Nigel Farage’s Reform due to Labour’s early struggles and the Tories’ failure to seize the initiative.

“If there’s an alliance to defeat Labour, Boris [Johnson] could easily be the beneficiary of that if he threw his name into the hat”, Jacob suggested.

Rumours about a return to politics for the man who resigned as PM in 2022 have gained some traction in recent months, but he appears happy to take a backseat for now.

A Johnson ally told GB News: “He will only come back if he thinks he can offer something to the Tory Party. It’s unlikely. He’s really enjoying life away from Westminster.”

Kemi Badenoch is struggling to gain a foothold in the polls

Current Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has suffered a tough start to life at the forefront with the party slipping behind Reform in the polls.

Johnson’s ex-Chief of Staff Dominic Cummings has even urged the party to “shove [her] out”.

Reform UK’s top brass are demanding a by-election in the Cheshire seat as the party, buoyed by recent polling successes, sense a major opportunity to return a sixth MP to Parliament.

But ex-Tory chairman Jake Berry told GB News that Badenoch’s party will not make such a feat easy for Nigel Farage.

Berry explained: "The Conservative party won't stand aside in a major by-election, nor should it be expected to. But I think this is probably Reform’s to win.

"In the last Parliament, we saw massive upsets. Nadine Dorries’s old constituency fell to the Labour Party with a huge Conservative majority. Selby & Ainsty in Yorkshire fell to the Labour Party with a huge Conservative majority.

"The Conservative Party don't have to stand aside for Reform to win this, Reform can be the Lib Dem by-election comeback kids of this parliament."