Farron: '˜Putting Boris Johnson in charge is like putting the Chuckle Brothers in charge of Newsnight'

Lancashire-born politician Tim Farron has taken a humorous sideswipe at the notion of Boris Johnson being left in charge of the country.

By The Newsroom

Published 16th Aug 2016, 08:21 BST

Updated 25th Aug 2016, 20:47 BST

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron. Photo: Jeff Overs/BBC/PA Wire

Liberal Democrat leader Farron, who grew up in Lostock Hall, was reacting to the news that Foreign Secretary Johnson has been named “senior duty minister” while Prime Minister Theresa May is on holiday.

Farron said: “Putting Boris Johnson in charge of the country is like putting the Chuckle Brothers in charge of Newsnight.

“Still, at least if he’s here he’s not in Rio offending everyone he meets – and there’s always Larry the Downing Street cat to stop him doing anything silly.

“Perhaps he can do something useful with his time in charge, like finding the £350m a week for the NHS that he promised,” Farron added.

A Downing Street spokesman stressed that although Theresa May is having a walking holiday in Switzerland with her husband, she “remains very much in charge”.