We can bring country together after Brexit upheaval, says Boris Johnson in Wolverhampton

The Foreign Secretary was in the Black Country to campaign alongside Conservative West Midlands Mayor candidate Andy Street.

He said the Conservatives 'had a very good case' to put to the country on June 8, and said Theresa May had 'a genuine desire' to learn the lessons of the EU referendum campaign and bring the country together.

Mr Johnson also poured scorn on reports that European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker was at odds with the Prime Minister over EU withdrawal negotiations.

Speaking during a visit to the Express & Star's headquarters in Queen Street, Mr Johnson said: "We're taking nobody's votes for granted. We believe this Government can get on with delivering in the Brexit talks, and keep the economy strong.

"What I believe is that if you have a strong economy you can create a platform for businesses to grow and flourish.

"We will have a manifesto that is pro-business and pro-growth that will help tackle the skills gap, drive up standards in schools. That is what is at the heart of what we are doing."

In recent days Mr Johnson has emerged as one of the major faces of the Tories' election campaign, although he maintains his key focus is on defending his 10,695 majority in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency.

He said: "We have all got to fight our own battles, but I think [as a party] we have got a very good case to put to the people.

"Unemployment is at record lows, 31 million people have seen a tax reduction and we have one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

"What we are asking now is for the country to give Theresa May the chance negotiate a good Brexit deal and get on with maximising the opportunities for this country."

Mr Johnson was dismissive of a German newspaper report that claimed Mrs May had clashed with EC President Jean-Claude Juncker at a Brexit talks dinner.

He described the Prime Minister as 'exactly the type of negotiator' the Britain needed. "She is calm and positive and gets on with it, and doesn't rush off bleating to the media about this or that," he added.

He added: "Theresa May is driven by a genuine desire to learn the lessons from the EU referendum campaign and to bring the country together.

"And for anyone who feels they have been left behind or that things are not working for them...she wants to make sure it does work for them.

"I think she is very ambitious for this country, but also very ambitious for British society...to make it fairer.

"As a party, this is perhaps not a message that we have been getting out there as much as we should have done."

Last week Mr Johnson launched a withering attack on Jeremy Corbyn, describing as a 'Mutton-headed old mugwump'.

In response Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson accused him of 'sowing discord' and branded him a 'caggy-handed, cheese-headed fopdoodle'.

Mr Johnson insisted he had a serious point to make over the possibility of Mr Corbyn being elected as Prime Minister, although he conceded that he could not recall a time where Labour had entered a General Election in such a weak position.

He described the Labour leader's policies as 'dangerous' and said that although the chances of Labour winning the election were slim, the possibility 'should not be underestimated'.

Meanwhile Mr Johnson, who was London Mayor from 2008 to 2016, said Andy Street was 'by far the best candidate' for the role of West Midlands Mayor.

"He has skills and advantages that even I didn't have when I was starting out as Mayor of London," he said.

"His record in business is phenomenal and he has huge experience of managing thousands and thousands of people with massive success.

"He has a vision for this region to be part of the world's industrial future and I think it will be a really great thing for the West Midlands if he gets in.

"I'm crossing my fingers."

Mr Johnson said he had been less than impressed with the campaign of Labour mayoral candidate Sion Simon, who used to work for him as a restaurant critic when he was editor of The Spectator.

Asked about Mr Simon's comments regarding the formation of a West Midlands United football team, Mr Johnson said: "He must be some sort of Euro-federalist if he really believes he can take these historic football teams and agglomerate them together in the way he proposes.

"It seems like a sort of tiny minded mania, to take Wolverhampton Wanderers...one of the great names of association football.

"It's unimaginable to deprive future generations of the ability to support that type of club."