The Minister of State for Northern Ireland Steve Baker has said that if Boris Johnson were to return to the British premiership, it would be a "guaranteed nailed-on failure".

Boris Johnson has not officially declared he's running yet, however he is expected to go up against Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt for the role following the resignation of Liz Truss.

"He's undoubtedly a wonderful man", the Minister said.

"I'm afraid, whatever people would like to be true, we need to just ruthlessly face the truth as it is, and the truth as it is is when that vote comes, which it will, his premiership would implode."

"This country cannot afford to be back here in a couple of months."

'Boris's style'

"He lights the room up when he's in the room, but unfortunately he doesn't have that meticulous compliance with tedious rules", the Minister said.

"He just doesn't do it and it's caught up with him."

Minister Baker is a supporter of Johnson, but has decided not to back him for the role at this time.

"There's a lot of love out there for Boris Johnson. I respect that."

"I'm a big fan of Boris Johnson, but this isn't the time for Boris's style."

'Guaranteed disaster'

"I'm afraid the trouble is, because of the privilege's vote, Boris would be a guaranteed disaster", said the Minister.

He believes the findings of the Privileges Committee's investigation into 'partygate' would trigger MP resignations if the former Prime Minister were to run again.

"62 MPs resigned from his government over the Pincher affair", said Minister Baker.

"Those same MPs are not now going to go like lambs through the division lobby."

"At the moment that there's a vote in the House of Commons on privilege, his premiership would collapse."

"It's a guaranteed nailed-on failure and we cannot allow it to happen."

Main image shows Minister Steve Baker. Picture by: Mark Kerrison/Alamy Live News