Johnson will take Tory fight to red-wall seats
BORIS Johnson is set to campaign for the Tories in red-wall seats ahead of the election in a bid to bring back voters who have deserted the party since 2019.
Sources told The Times that this was evidence of thawing relations between Rishi Sunak and his predecessor, after Mr Johnson accused his former Chancellor of betrayal when he was forced out of Downing Street.
Last month, both men issued a joint statement on the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine following talks between No 10 and the former Prime Minister’s team.
Graham Stuart, an Energy Minister, said that the reports are signs of “the Conservative family coming together and working flat out together to close that opinion poll lead that Labour currently enjoy”.
“Boris is a huge personality and character. He’s always been dedicated to the interests of this country, he said,” adding: “And he, like me, recognises the need to stop Keir Starmer becoming Prime Minister.”
It was reported that Mr Johnson is set to visit marginal constituencies and make speeches, as well as appearing on leaflets. A source said: “If there is a way he can help that is right for him and for the party he will. Sunak will of course be front and centre but he [Johnson] always wanted to take the fight to Starmer. Just as he has always supported the Conservative Party he will do so now.”
A Government source added: “Don’t expect Boris to appear on stage with Rishi – that’s not going to happen – but he is up for it. The relationship is in a fairly good place.”
It comes after Mr Sunak saw Lee Anderson, one of the MPs who won their seats in 2019 under Boris Johnson, defect to Reform UK.
Mr Anderson was previously deputy chairman of the party and has been repeatedly criticised for his outspoken comments. He was suspended for saying that Islamists had “got control” of the London mayor Sadiq Khan.
A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: “Boris Johnson’s focus at the moment is writing and speaking and he is very productively engaged on that. His position has been consistently in support of the Conservative Party...and that will remain so.”