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Bungling Boris Johnson has been left in charge of the country as the PM and Chancellor enjoy summer breaks.

Downing Street admitted the hapless Foreign Secretary is the most senior Minister left in Whitehall this week with Theresa May and Philip Hammond both on holiday.

Labour MP Karl Turner said: “This shows once again what an absolute disaster it is to have the Tories in Government.

“Boris Johnson should be nowhere near the reins of power - he can barely run a bath, let alone a country.

“Heaven help us if anything serious happens while he is in charge.”

(Image: PA)

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron added: “Putting Boris Johnson in charge of the country is like putting the Chuckle Brothers in charge of Newsnight.

“Still, at least if he’s here, he’s not in Rio offending everyone he meets – and there’s always Larry the cat to stop him doing anything silly.

“Perhaps he can do something useful with his time in charge, like finding the £350m a week for the NHS that he promised.”

Number 10 insisted Mrs May is officially still in charge, despite being on a walking holiday in the Swiss Alps with her husband Philip.

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Last week Chancellor Mr Hammond had been left as the most senior Minister in charge - but now he too has jetted off on holiday.

Mrs May’s deputy official spokesman confirmed Boris is now the most senior Minister in Whitehall, but claimed the PM is still running the show from her mountain retreat.

“As we said last week - it was the Chancellor last week - the PM is very much in charge and is constantly kept abreast of what is going on,” he said.

(Image: Getty)

Previous Cabinet Ministers to have been left in charge while the PM was away include former Labour Deputy PM John Prescott and former Lib Dem Deputy PM Nick Clegg.

A Downing Street source said: “It is standard practice for a senior duty minister to be appointed whilst the PM is travelling.

“They can attend to urgent business or meetings if required. The PM remains in charge and will be updated throughout.”

Mr Johnson was not available for comment.