UPDATE: Five minutes before the deadline to declare his candidacy, Boris Johnson has said he will not stand, after Michael Gove threw his hat into the ring instead. We're trying to contact Conor Burns for an update to this story but he's in a Finance Bill committee and can't respond right now.

BOURNEMOUTH West MP Conor Burns has joined Boris Johnson’s Conservative leadership campaign team.

Mr Burns was an avid Leave campaigner throughout the EU referendum alongside Mr Johnson, who is currently 6/4 to become the leader of the Conservative Party and the next prime minister.

“The next prime minister will have to implement the Brexit decision and we need to have someone who campaigned for that decision and believes in that decision,” said Mr Burns.

“Boris is the right person to do this because he has a reach with the electorate which is unprecedented.

“There is overwhelming support for Boris, especially in places where the Conservative Party don’t always do well. He will be a unifying force.”

Mr Burns also refuted claims that Boris Johnson would need to call an early election if he does take over in the autumn.

“I think 17 million people in this country voting to leave the EU is enough of a mandate for him to avoid calling an early election,” he added.

North Dorset MP Simon Hoare is backing leadership hopeful Stephen Crabb.

“I think [Mr Crabb] has the right skills, the right outlook and the right experiences and values,” he said.

“With no slight meant whatsoever to the prime minister, I think it would send out a very bad message about the Conservative party if we ended up with another old Etonian [as PM].”

Mr Crabb was raised on a Welsh council estate by a single mum and worked as a builder to put himself through university after attending the local comprehensive, Mr Hoare said.

“He has a commitment to social justice and meritocracy,” he added.

Richard Drax for South Dorset has not yet backed a candidate, while Robert Syms, MP for Poole, said he was waiting for the full list of nominations.

“Personally I was trying to keep David Cameron as I believe he would be the best person to negotiate our departure from the EU,” he said.