SOUTH Dorset's MP Richard Drax has spoken of a new mood within his party following the appointment of a new Conservative prime minister.

Mr Drax has previously been vocal in his support for Boris Johnson - who has woken up this morning as prime minister following a successful leadership campaign.

Speaking to the Echo after the announcement, Richard Drax described Mr Johnson as having "a magic touch".

“Obviously I’m delighted Boris the job, and all due respect to Jeremy Hunt who ran a good campaign", he said.

“The reason I have backed Boris from the start is that he is one of the few in the House who has that magic touch.

“People smile even if they don’t like him. The mood in the party has changed from the mood it has been for the last two or three years. There is an infectious quality about this man. I am convinced he will be a good prime minister.

“He’s got a massive task ahead of him. He will wake up on Thursday morning in charge of the country, and there’s a lot to do and that’s what he will focus all his efforts on.”

Mr Drax said that once Mr Johnson has achieved Brexit, he will be able to focus on important issues in the country such as education and the economy.

He continued: “In a few years’ time we will look back on this and wonder what we were worried about. Any divorce is a big thing, physically and emotionally, but like all divorces time will heal and we can move on.”

Previously Richard Drax - who writes a weekly column for the Dorset Echo - has backed the new prime minister's wishes to leave the EU, commenting: "No one wants that more than Boris Johnson, who I am supporting... He’s made it crystal clear that the UK will leave the EU on October 31, with or without a deal.

Meanwhile, MP for Bournemouth West, Conor Burns, also spoke in support of the new prime minister.

Mr Burns said: "He'll bring an optimism and an energy and dynamism. I think he'll bring a can-do attitude when we've had a government for the past few years concentrating on all the negatives and the dangers and I think he'll bring us back to 'we are Britain, we can do this'."