Boris Johnson makes last minute campaign appearance as UK prepares to hold election

On the eve of the UK public voting at the General Election, Boris Johnson made a surprise appearance at a Conservative rally, making a last ditch speech and laying into the opposition.

The polling stations open at 7am on Thursday 4 July with Labour predicted to achieve a massive victory, but that did not stop Mr Johnson taking aim at the competition.

Pulling no punches, he tore into Sir Keir Starmer and declared that if Labour took the expected win, then Britain would be left with “the most left-wing government since the war”.

Ever the showman, the former PM had the audience eating out of his hand with his usual gusto, but despite his crowd-pleasing charm offensive, it is widely felt that it almost certainly won’t be able to change the party’s election fate.

His move was mocked by Sir Keir and branded a “desperate new low” by the Liberal Democrats.

Couldn’t say no

It certainly came out of the blue and in hindsight Rishi Sunak may regret not calling on his help six weeks earlier, but nevertheless, Boris still delivered a typical box office performance, similar to those he used to trot out at packed Tory conferences.

He made sure it was understood that his attendance was as a result of being asked to speak by Mr Sunak, rather than volunteering. Effectively, insinuating that the PM had begged him to rescue his disastrous Tory election campaign.

“I was glad when Rishi asked me to help, and of course I couldn’t say no,” he announced. He went on to make a ten minute speech in which there was not a single word of praise for his former Chancellor, nor even a handshake.

On top form

However, he was on top form as he warned about the consequences of allowing a Labour supermajority, or turning to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, calling him a “Kremlin crawler”.

He remarked: “If you feel you have a few thousand pounds to spare, and if you want uncontrolled immigration and mandatory wokery and pointless kowtowing to Brussels again, then go right ahead and vote for Starmer.”

He quickly added: “None of us can sit back as a Labour government prepares to use a sledgehammer majority to destroy so much of what we have achieved. If you want to protect our democracy and our economy and keep this country strong abroad by spending 2.5% of our GDP on defence, which Labour still refuses to, then you know what to do, don’t you, everybody.”

Mr Johnson, who led the Tories to a landslide victory in 2019 against a Labour Party led by Jeremy Corbyn, told cheering activists that Reform could achieve nothing in the election except to usher in the “most left-wing Labour government since the war” with a huge majority, and stressed: “we must not let it happen”.

Now in full flow, he continued: “Don’t let the Putinistas deliver the Corbynistas. Don’t let Putin’s pet parrots give this entire country psittacosis – which is a disease you get by the way from cosying up to pet parrots.”

Mr Sunak addressed the crowds after Mr Johnson, hailing the “united Conservative family” and claiming just 130,000 voters could help stem his party’s predicted losses.

Labour leader mocks the Tories

Sir Keir ridiculed the return of Mr Johnson, stating that rather than being in any way concerned, he saw it as further clarification of the chaos and division in the Conservative Party.

“I think Rishi started campaigning with Cameron at his side, then he borrowed Liz Truss’ play-book and put unfunded commitments in his manifesto, and now he has wheeled out Boris Johnson, it makes my case for me.”

He did however, still appeal for votes telling campaigners that every single one has to be earned and pointing out that in places it could go down to a few hundred votes either way.

It is 19 years since they won a General Election.

New low claim

Meanwhile Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper described Mr Johnson’s appearance as an insult to everyone who made heart-breaking sacrifices during the pandemic.

She accused the PM of reaching “a desperate new low” by turning to a man who “discredited the office of prime minister” and “lied to the country time after time.”

Seven main parties

The UK has 650 constituencies, each with a Member of Parliament who represent them in the House of Commons.

Most candidates belong to a particular political party, with the main ones being: Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, Green, SNP and Plaid Cymru, although some are also independent.

State opening on 17th

If no party ends up with a majority of MPs – meaning it cannot pass legislation with just its own MPs – the result is a hung Parliament, but the likelihood of that occurring this time around is virtually nil.

Whoever is voted in – and Labour are overwhelming favourites – the new Parliament will meet on 9 July, when it will elect a Speaker and swear in its members. This will be followed on 17 July by the State Opening of Parliament and the King’s Speech, when the government outlines its priorities.