Boris Johnson will spend much of the election campaign abroad

Boris Johnson has categorically ruled out the possibility of standing as an MP in this election. Photo: Carl Court .uk/bc72b371-0215-4d99-b27b-4223678de837.html?direct=true&id=bc72b371-0215-4d99-b27b-4223678de837&template=articleRendererHTML' class='tmg-particle Sticky-nav wrp-bc72b371-02 15-4d99-b27b- 4223678de837' title='General Election' data-business-type='editorial' loading='eager' scroll='no'frameborder='0'allow='web-share' style='width: 100%; min-width: 100%; border: none; position: relative; display: block; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;'>

Boris Johnson will be out of the country for much of the election campaign but will help from afar, friends say.

The former prime minister has a series of pre-planned trips in the coming weeks that he will not cancel.

These range from professional appearances abroad to personal holidays that were booked before the election was called, according to those familiar with his schedule.

Mr Johnson has categorically ruled out standing as an MP in this election. – despite calls from fellow MPs to get into the ring, especially given the large number of empty seats.

Mr Johnson's allies were at pains on Saturday night to point out that he will actively fight for a Conservative Party victory in the election, even if he is not physically in the country.

A source close to Mr. Well, Johnson. Johnson said he believes Sir Keir Starmer poses a «threat» to Britain and that «more is expected» from him «on this front».

Mr Johnson has been in talks with Isaac Levido, the Tory party's election guru, about what role he will play in the election campaign.

Interventions are likely to include direct mail letters and emails to voters , social media posts, and campaigning on behalf of individual MPs.

Those familiar with Mr Johnson's thinking say he is very concerned about Labour's policy of charging VAT on private schools, and, is likely to say this, as well as the economic and tax plans of shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves.

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Mr Johnson has made a number of targeted interventions in the run-up to May's local elections, including making a video supporting Tees Valley mayor Lord Houchen, who successfully held on to the mayoralty.

He also wrote in support for West Midlands mayoral candidate Andy. Street, showering him with praise and dismissing Tory achievements in Westminster.

Backing Mr Street, who ultimately lost to his Labor rival, Mr Johnson urged voters to “forget about government” and “forget about Westminster”, adding that: “This election is about the next four years in the West Midlands – and who you want in charge. If it were my vote, I'd want someone with experience getting things done. And this is Andy Street.»

On Saturday, the former minister demanded Rishi Sunak bring Johnson back as a candidate amid a record exodus of MPs ahead of the general election.

Dame Andrea Jenkins, who worked at the Department for Education under Johnson, said the former prime minister running for one of the dozens of vacant seats will improve her party's chances.

Dame Andrea said her parliamentary colleagues should never have ousted Mr Johnson in 2022 and has been a strong critic of Mr Sunak, submitting a letter of no confidence late last year. Along with Sir Simon Clarke, she was one of two Conservative MPs to resign before Mr Sunak called the election.

In an article on X (formerly Twitter), Dame Andrea wrote:< /p>

Considering that many deputies are resigning. I think @BorisJohnson should take one of these spots. Time to “Bring Back Boris.” We need him to help stop the often kneeling, flopping, anti-Brexit sir who doesn't know «what a woman is.» Starmer and Rayner from coming to power. pic.twitter.com/ft0pmhcJBl

— Andrea Jenkins 🇬🇧 For South West Leeds & Morley (@andreajenkyns) May 25, 2024

However, Johnson has ruled out a return to parliament. He is currently writing a book about his time in office and has made millions from high-profile public appearances since leaving Downing Street.

He is also expected to soon begin a series of appearances on GB News, having signed up to the channel to expand coverage of elections in the UK and US.

Mr Johnson has resigned as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip. last June, saying the House of Commons inquiry had decided to find him guilty of partying.

He accused the privileges committee of acting as a «kangaroo court» in its investigation into the Downing Street party scandal. which ultimately hastened his fall as prime minister and also blamed the Tories for losing their «mojo» under Mr Sunak.

Mr Johnson on Friday, striking a more conciliatory tone, used his Daily Mail column to bolster the Tories' election campaign by urging voters to «save this country from socialism» in a series of attacks on Sir Keir.

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However, he never mentioned Mr Sunak by name and has criticized a number of his major policies in recent months, including the smoking ban, the abandonment of HS2 and the delay or weakening of a number of climate targets.

Mr Johnson warned, that Sir Keir will become «the most dangerous and left-wing Prime Minister of the Labor Party since the 1970s» and will increase both taxes and spending.

He said Sir Keir and Ms Reeves were «vampirically licking their lips» over the prospect of wealth taxes, while warning that Labor, if elected, would «throw in the sponge and let the boats come» by abandoning the Rwandan deportation plan.