CONOR Burns has been appointed as minister for state in the Department for International Trade on Boris Johnson's second day as prime minster.

Close ally of the new Conservative Party Leader, Bournemouth West MP Mr Burns joined a number of other colleagues in taking up a ministerial post in the past 48 hours.

The move means both Bournemouth representatives in the House of Commons are part of the government, with Tobias Ellwood MP retaining his position in the Ministry of Defence.

On Wednesday, Mr Burns dodged questions on whether he had been earmarked for a position in Mr Johnson's government.

The 46-year-old was elected to represent Bournemouth West in 2010 and defended his seat in 2015 and 2017.

He served as parliamentary private secretary to Mr Johnson when he was foreign minister, however, resigned from this post in July 2018.