Allies of Boris Johnson said they were planning to call a general election by the summer of next year

Boris Johnson wants to hold an early general election “while Jeremy Corbyn is still around”, senior allies have said as his team plans to overhaul the Conservative Party’s campaign machine.

The frontrunner for the Tory leadership appeared last night at a fundraising dinner with his rival, Jeremy Hunt, that was attended by 100 Conservative donors in an attempt to boost the party coffers and build an election war chest.

The £1,000-a-head event in central London, where donors questioned the candidates directly, was intended to help to secure more than £1 million. Sources said that the party had been left in “dire financial straits” under Theresa May after donors abandoned it amid concerns over Brexit.

Sir Edward Lister, who is charged with overseeing Mr