Johnson urges public to vote Conservative after election announcement

Boris Johnson has urged voters to back the Tories amid speculation he might appear on the General Election campaign trail.

A spokesman for the former prime minister said he was “as always, strongly supporting the Conservatives” and “encourages everybody to do the same” following the announcement that a poll would take place on July 4.

On polling day itself, Mr Johnson will hope not to repeat his experience at May’s local elections, when he was turned away from a polling station after attempting to vote without a valid photo ID.

Meanwhile, Mr Sunak’s direct predecessor Liz Truss said she looked forward to campaigning for re-election in South West Norfolk.

Britain’s shortest-serving prime minister tweeted a statement saying she would be “running on my record of standing up for local residents over the past 14 years”.

She added: “Only by returning a Conservative MP on 4th July can residents be guaranteed a strong voice for South West Norfolk in Westminster who has a track record of fighting for lower taxes, controlling our borders and traditional conservative values.”