Dean Russell has praised the former prime minister Boris Johnson after he resigned as an MP.

The Watford MP took to Twitter acknowledging people held “strong views” about Mr Johnson but said he was “always a good friend to Watford”.

Mr Johnson resigned from his Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat on Friday, June 9 after he was given the findings into whether he misled parliament over partygate.

Mr Russell also said on Twitter: “As PM he supported me with delivering for our town and helped promote important local projects/charities.

“I will always be grateful for his support to both me and our town.”

 

Despite stepping down, it seems Mr Johnson has left the door open to return to politics as he said he was leaving parliament “for now”.

The former Conservative Party leader’s announcement that he was quitting as an MP came only hours after his resignation honours list had been published.

Mr Johnson also launched a scathing attack on the Commons Privileges Committee who carried out the nearly year-long inquiry.

He accused the group of cross-party MPs of producing a yet-to-be-published report “riddled with inaccuracies and reeks of prejudice” while providing him with “no formal ability to challenge anything they say”.

There will now be a by-election in Mr Johnson’s former seat Uxbridge and South Ruislip.