Boris Johnson has broken his political hiatus and re-entered the arena today with a major intervention to back two Tory mayoral candidates.
Mr Johnson has written a letter of endorsement for the West Midlands mayor Andy Street and recorded a video for Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen, both of whom are fighting for their political survival.
In a letter to voters in the West Midlands, Mr Johnson urged people to “forget about the government” as both mayoral candidates distance themselves from the unpopularity of Rishi Sunak and campaign with their personal reputations.
Mr Johnson writes: “You might not like everything the Conservatives have done.
“Forget about the government. Forget about Westminster. The election is about the next four years in the West Midlands – and who do you want in charge.”
Meanwhile he told voters in Teesside to “look at the progress that Ben Houchen has made since has been mayor”.
“Reopening Teesside airport, which his Labour opponent was going to close and turn into a housing estate.
“Creating the UK’s biggest Freeport in Teesside, the home of green jobs and green industries of the future.
“He’s brought steelmaking back to Teesside, the Treasury to Darlington, he’s invested in roads and rail, he’s got a fantastic vision.
“But above all he’s a guy who does what he says he’s going to do.
“Mayor Houchen delivers. So on May 2nd put his opponent – sleepy Chris – to bed and vote for Ben Houchen as mayor.”
Despite strong headwinds in national polling, with the Tories trailing dozens of points behind Labour, both Mr Street and Mr Houchen’s popularity and strong record in power suggest they could avoid being turfed out.
A YouGov poll yesterday said that while the contest in the West Midlands is too close to call, Mr Street is ahead of Labour by 2 points.
Meanwhile Ben Houchen is ahead of his Labour opponent by 7 points.
However nationally the local elections will not be good for the Tories. It’s thought that Rishi Sunak could lose half of the 1000 council seats he’s defending.
And while Mr Houchen in Teesside could return to office, next-door in Mr Sunak’s own North Yorkshire constituency the Conservatives may lose the new North Yorkshire mayoral contest to Labour, according to a poll this morning.
