Former PM Boris endorses Penrith and Solway Conservative candidate

Mr Johnson, in a video revealed by the News & Star, has said he 'strongly hopes' that Mr Jenkinson will get the support of electors in the Penrith and Solway constituency on July 4.

In the message, the former Prime Minister said: "It's Boris Johnson here, just saying how strongly I hope that you can support Mark Jenkinson as your MP for Penrith and Solway on July 4.

"I have known Mark for ages and he has been a fantastic local MP and I know he will do an outstanding job for Penrith and Solway."

Mark Jenkinson MP with the former Prime Minister. (Image: Supplied)

Following the endorsement, the former Workington MP has said he was 'absolutely thrilled' to receive the message from the former Prime Minister.

Penrith and Solway conservative candidate, Mark Jenkinson said: "I am absolutely thrilled to receive this heartfelt and unexpected message and endorsement from a former Prime Minister.

"This was the man who got Brexit done; piloted us through an unprecedented global pandemic with the quickest vaccination rollout in Europe; and led the free world in standing up to Putin.

"Boris was a friend to me and to the Workington constituency - we’re the poster boys for his Levelling Up agenda, the fruits of which we are now starting to see across north and west Cumbria and will be felt for decades to come."

It is not the first time Mr Johnson has endorsed the candidate, with the former PM calling him 'a standout of the 2019 intake' in a message of support following his selection win for the Penrith and Solway conservative candidacy back in January 2023.

Other candidates standing for the Penrith and Solway constituency in the General Election are :

• AGLIONBY, Julia Catherine Weir (Liberal Democrats)
• CAMPBELL - SAVOURS, Markus Dale (Labour)
• DENHAM - SMITH, Susan Jane (The Green Party)
• IVINSON, Roy (Independent)
• JOHNSTON, Chris (Independent)
• LONG, Shaun Keith (Social Democratic Party)
• MOODY, Matthew (Reform UK)