Boris Johnson had enough backers to challenge Rishi Sunak, says 1922 chair

Sir Graham Brady says ex-PM hit threshold of nominations to secure place on final ballot in Tory leadership race

The chair of the committee of Conservative backbenchers has suggested the former prime minister Boris Johnson had the backing of enough MPs to mount a challenge to Rishi Sunak in last month's leadership contest.

Johnson dropped out of the race, claiming he had the nominations needed to make it on to the ballot paper but could not unite the party.