Jacob Rees-Mogg has announced his support for Boris Johnson to return as Prime Minister in the wake of Liz Truss' resignation.

The North East Somerset MP declared his support on Friday morning by tweeting the short statement: "I'm backing Boris."

As Business Secretary, he was the first cabinet member to publicly back the former Prime Minister's return to the role. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has since said he is leaning towards supporting Mr Johnson.

According to Sky News' running tally of who Conservative MPs have declared support for, Boris Johnson currently has the second highest number of backers, with more than Penny Mordant but fewer than Rishi Sunak.

Candidates will each need to secure the backing of 100 Tory MPs. If three candidates secure this number, Tory MPs will vote on a final two who will then be put to the party membership in an online poll. The new leader is planned to be in place by October 28.

Mr Rees-Mogg has been a consistent ally of Mr Johnson, supporting him in the 2016 leadership contest until he dropped out and in 2019, when Mr Johnson was successful and became party leader. Mr Rees-Mogg was one of the few government ministers who did not resign from Mr Johnson's government in July.

He supported Liz Truss in the subsequent leadership election.

Although party leaders can be replaced and take over as Prime Minister without an election, opposition voices have called for an election after what will be the second change of leadership without the public having a say.

Among those calling for a general election, is the MP for the neighbouring Bath constituency, Liberal Democrat Wera Hobhouse.

She said: "A fundamental change is needed and that can only be achieved with a General Election. Conservative Prime Minister after Conservative Prime Minister has held this country back and as a result, ordinary people are suffering.

"It is an insult for the Conservatives to try and impose another unelected leader on a public that is so clearly tired of this carousel of chaos. They need to recognise that their time is up, consider the national interest and not just their own personal selfish ambitions, and call an election."

If Mr Johnson returns to office he would be the first Prime Minister since 1970's PM Harold Wilson to occupy the office on two separate occasions. Defining moments of Mr Wilson's time in office included a referendum over membership of the European Community and the devaluation of the pound.