A Kent MP has been branded an "agitator" after threatening to quit the Conservative Party whip should Boris Johnson return as leader.

North Thanet Tory Sir Roger Gale issued the statement after reports emerged the former Prime Minister could be poised to enter the race for Number 10.

The veteran backbencher, whose constituency features Herne Bay, told Times Radio yesterday he would stand as an independent candidate at the next election, if Mr Johnson makes a return to Downing Street.

But Folkestone and Hythe Conservative Association chairman Stephen James believes Sir Roger should "look elsewhere", reasoning party "discipline needs to be improved".

He told KentOnline: “Sir Roger has been a great servant of the party, but everyone's time comes.

"If he feels the party no longer represents his values, he is right to look elsewhere.

"To have agitators constantly undermining the party is not helpful.

"If you are not booting people out who are openly criticising you as leader, you put yourself in a very dangerous position."

Sir Roger, who has been a regular critic of Mr Johnson, argued last night "there should be no possibility of him returning to government" until the Privileges Committee completes its probe into the former leader.

The probe was launched following allegations the pandemic PM has breached the ministerial code.

Sir Roger said he would quit the Conservative whip, meaning he would no longer be a Tory MP, but would continue to be a party member.

However, Mr James questions the "point" in keeping the 79-year-old in the party as "you know he is going to stick a letter urging a no-confidence vote in" if Mr Johnson wins.

“For too long people have been able to get away with saying what they want," he explained.

"I was also of the view that we should not have allowed Boris to be removed from office.

"I knew that his successor would not be regarded as an official leader because they had not won an election."

Polling shows party activists want Boris and they did not want to remove him, Mr James added.

Asked if the divisive Tory would be a liability rather than an asset, he responded: “He is the man who will inspire the troops on the ground.

"We Brits love a comeback story, and what [critics] are doing is feeding into that narrative.”