Devizes MP Danny Kruger will not be standing for the leadership of the Conservative party.

But he thinks a leadership election should be held sooner rather than later – and he wants the next leader and PM to carry on what he says was the good work and great promise of Boris Johnson.

Mr Kruger stepped down from his government post of private parliamentary secretary in the Levelling Up Department  immediately after Boris Johnson had sacked his boss  Michael Gove.

And although Mr Johnson has said he will step down as leader and PM when the Conservatives elect a new leader in the Autumn, Mr Kruger thinks that process should be accelerated, and Mr Johnson to be replaced as soon as possible

He said: “Having resigned my post I’m not on the list of people to be called to take ministerial jobs – though I don’t hold it against those who have. I think we need ministerial positions filled, the work of government needs to go on.

“But we need a new leadership election for the party to take place. It needs to be a proper election, so it can’t be done straight away, but I’d like to see it doon as soon as possible. I think it can be done sooner than three months.”

Mr Kruger ruled himself out from thinking of running and said he wasn’t able to say who he would like to see standing, and winning.

He added: “I thought the great promise of Boris Johnson, the project to level up and unite the country was crucial. That’s why I supported him nearly until the bitter end to try and achieve that.

“I’d like to see the next prime Minister take that on, to level up and unit the country and continue that realignment of politics where we won voters in the north and midlands and across the whole of the UK. I don’t think that promise should be squandered.”

He paid tribute to Boris Johnson’s time as Prime Minister – but did admit a great opportunity had been squandered: “There are historic achievements of Boris Johnson and his government: He got Brexit done, he steered us through the Covid-19 pandemic, and he led the international support for Ukraine. These are real, historic achievements.

“It’s very sad that it has been squandered. It’s Boris Johnson’s personal tragedy and perhaps a tragedy for the Conservative party that the promise of early 2020 has been wasted.”