![No-show Boris still 'an asset' to campaign](https://cdn.magzter.com/1583504377/1718842689/articles/8xDUrgGWA1718865260525/NOSHOW-BORIS-STILL-AN-ASSET-TO-CAMPAIGN.jpg)
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride's remarks came as it emerged Mr Johnson was no longer expected to appear on the campaign trail.
Explaining his absence, Mr Stride said former the PM was making promotional videos for individual candidates from afar.
He said Mr Johnson was supporting the Conservatives in a "modern way" through the videos, which urge people to vote for the party.
Mr Stride said: "That's probably quite an effective way of getting a message across.
"I mean, Boris is clearly an asset to the campaign, he has clearly chosen to get involved and he's clearly urging people to vote Conservative." Mr Johnson, who turned 60 yesterday, has endorsed 50 Tory candidates and put his name to tens of thousands of letters to voters, in a bid to counter the threat posed by Nigel Farage's Reform UK party.
It is understood the former Tory leader will be taking a holiday in the coming days, planned long before PM Rishi Sunak called the surprise July 4 election.
He is due back in the UK on July 3, the day before the nation goes to the polls.
This story is from the June 20, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 20, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![DROSS TO BOSS AS LIONS ESCAPE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1750655/63kXZAAc61719809903640/DROSS-TO-BOSS-AS-LIONS-ESCAPE.jpg)
DROSS TO BOSS AS LIONS ESCAPE
Southgate had looked lost on touchline until amazing twist
![Year of hurt never stopped me dreaming](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1750655/-tX2fWtkK1719809630666/YEAR-OF-HURT-NEVER-STOPPED-ME-DREAMING.jpg)
Year of hurt never stopped me dreaming
RELAXED RADUCANU READY TO BE PART OF GLORIOUS SUMMER
![It's a Shangri-La moment for our leaders of the pack](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1750655/8tVMbKC9T1719809778009/ITS-A-SHANGRILA-MOMENT-FOR-OUR-LEADERS-OF-THE-PACK.jpg)
It's a Shangri-La moment for our leaders of the pack
GARETH SOUTHGATE and England love a leadership group but for more than an hour and a half of an utterly dreadful performance it went missing.
![DUEL'S GOLD](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1750655/nySjO4QAm1719809477245/DUELS-GOLD.jpg)
DUEL'S GOLD
Verstappen and Norris gift laughing Russell a rare win
![IT'S OUR MOMENT OF TRUTH](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1750655/5UN2txP3T1719809351967/ITS-OUR-MOMENT-OF-TRUTH.jpg)
IT'S OUR MOMENT OF TRUTH
KEVIN SINFIELD has warned England their tour starts now as Steve Borthwick's side prepare to face New Zealand on Saturday in Dunedin.
![LOS FIRMLY IN PROFIT](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1750655/GC1N2gst91719809204416/LOS-FIRMLY-IN-PROFIT.jpg)
LOS FIRMLY IN PROFIT
Angeles wins Irish Derby
![Tories and Labour working to get small business votes](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1750655/pBWoAorbn1719808618634/TORIES-AND-LABOUR-WORKING-TO-GET-SMALL-BUSINESS-VOTES.jpg)
Tories and Labour working to get small business votes
FOUR in five bosses of small and medium-size businesses are still holding out to be wooed Thursday's General Election.
!['Jane saved my life...it's as simple as that'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1750655/rjOEgKkpF1719808485306/JANE-SAVED-MY-LIFEITS-AS-SIMPLE-AS-THAT.jpg)
'Jane saved my life...it's as simple as that'
Dog charity worker nominated for her PTSD crusade
![Children killed by missiles](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1750655/1orpHyTFm1719808414210/CHILDREN-KILLED-BY-MISSILES.jpg)
Children killed by missiles
THREE children were among seven civilians killed by a Russian missile attack on a town in southern Ukraine.
![Pub's not the best place if you have a hangarover](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1750655/nt081WjuO1719808335301/PUBS-NOT-THE-BEST-PLACE-IF-YOU-HAVE-A-HANGAROVER.jpg)
Pub's not the best place if you have a hangarover
IT may not be the best choice for a quiet pint - this pub garden is just 50ft from an airport runway.