DOWNING STREET, 2024 – As the curtains close on the tumultuous year of 2023. Political soothsayers are predicting what 2024 might hold for ex-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Rumours abound that Boris, ever the political maverick, is gearing up for a Churchillian resurrection in the upcoming UK general election. Drawing inspiration from his idol. Sir Winston Churchill, who orchestrated two non-consecutive terms as PM, the charismatic yet polarizing figure.

Johnson is set to confound critics and political opponents alike by staging an unexpected comeback. A political phoenix rising from the ashes of his turbulent tenure, his campaign slogan: “Boris 2.0 – Take Back Control …again!”

Ghost of premiership past

However, with the ghost of COVID-19 continuing to haunt the halls of political power. Will the ongoing inquiry into the government’s handling of the pandemic spell more trouble for Johnson? The inquiry, akin to a relentless ghost of political past, threatens to further chip away at his already battered reputation.

Will the inquiry be the final nail in the coffin of his second premiership and consign him permanently to the dustbin alley of history?

A third alternative – a collaboration with fellow political mavericks, Suella Braverman and Nigel Farage. Unifying to claim Downing Street as the right-wing ‘Dream Team’ – is tantalizing but unlikely.

Rock and a hard place

Political pundits are divided on the matter, with some predicting a triumphant Boris 2.0, complete with a revamped public image and a strategic plan to navigate the post-pandemic landscape. Others foresee a grimmer fate, revealing a legacy with the word ‘Partygate’ etched in granite.

As the countdown to 2024 begins, the political stage is set for a gripping sequel to the Boris Johnson saga. Will it be a tale of the Churchillian comeback king or the COVID-19 casualty?