Making Boris Johnson prime minister again would be "absolutely catastrophic", Tory MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire Jesse Norman has said.

In the wake of Prime Minister Liz Truss's resignation yesterday, he tweeted:

There are several very good potential candidates for Conservative leader. But choosing Boris now would be — and I say this advisedly — an absolutely catastrophic decision.

Mr Johnson is being touted as a contender to make a comeback, with defence secretary Ben Wallace, himself considered a possible contender, saying today he was "leaning towards" supporting Mr Johnson for party leader.

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Mr Norman submitted a letter of no confidence in Mr Johnson during the later stages of his time in office in June.

He described Mr Johnson at the time as “a man I have known and greatly liked for more than 40 years”, but said his concerns “relate to policy, approach to government and treatment of the British constitution” as well as the then-current Partygate scandal.

Mr Norman previously backed Mr Johnson's successful bid for the Tory leadership in 2019, describing him at the time as "a person of huge talent, and an old friend".

He earlier helped with Mr Johnson's London Mayoral campaign in 2008, supported his re-election in the capital in 2012, and worked on his earlier Conservative leadership bid in 2016.

His fellow Herefordshire MP Sir Bill Wiggin has been approached for his views on the candidates for prime minister.

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