BoJo to wannabe Tory leaders: "Put a sock in it and back the PM"

Boris Johnson has hit out at Tory ministers accused of eyeing leadership positions saying they should “put a sock in it and back the Prime Minister”.

The remarks come after Home Secretary Theresa May announced her political visions in a speech last week after which she was called the new “Iron Lady” and the “Stop Boris” candidate.

Johnson has time and again denied speculations of him replacing the PM and has said his chances of being PM are about as good as the chances of “finding Elvis on Mars”, or “being reincarnated as an olive”.

Speaking to the Sun, the mayor of London said: “If ministers are setting out their stall now, it strikes me as being very odd.

“They should save their breath and cool their porridge. Put a sock in it and get on and back the Prime Minister.

“David Cameron is doing a fantastic job. I am backing him. It’s mid-term. People need some sort of political drama so they’re inventing one. I think it’s complete nonsense.”

Johnson went on to say that backing a Conservative-led coalition will help make “London even more competitive and produce a really lasting recovery”.

“They should save their breath. Put their shoulders to the wheel, all hands to the mast, and all shoot from the same trench, to mix my metaphors,” he added.