Boris Johnson is finished as Prime Minister, two Cabinet ministers have said, as they swatted aside suggestions he could make a shock return to Number 10. 

Therese Coffey, the Work and Pensions Secretary, dismissed claims the PM has told allies he will be back within a year as “speculation and tittle tattle”.

She said he “chose to step down” and would “continue, I’m sure, to be supportive of the next Conservative Prime Minister and into the next election”.

More than 9,000 Tory members have signed a petition calling for Mr Johnson’s name to be added to the final round of the leadership contest.

Ms Coffey, who is backing Liz Truss, said “understandably a lot of people supported Boris” but “the reality is there’s only two candidates in the race.

Tory party had moved on

“He has stepped aside and will be stepping down as Prime Minister in due course and I’m focused on the future,” she told broadcasters.

Sir Robert Buckland, the Welsh Secretary, said the Tory party had already moved on and there was virtually no chance of the outgoing PM returning.

“His time in office is coming to an end and that means a new chapter for him and a new chapter for the Conservative Party,” he said.