ANYONE who easily takes offence should steer clear of the Steam Museum next week as Boris Johnson pays a visit to Swindon.

The controversial MP and Spectator editor will speak at the annual dinner of the North and South Swindon Conservatives at the museum on Friday, February 18.

Coun Justin Tomlinson, who will stand for the Tories in North Swindon at the next election, said they were delighted the Henley MP had agreed to visit.

"Boris Johnson is a charismatic, popular MP who we were sure would help us sell out for the dinner," he said.

"We were delighted that he was able to accept. He doesn't do as many public events as he used to but he was very excited about the choice of venue as the Steam Museum."

And Coun Tomlinson was not worried about Mr Johnson's record of putting his foot in it.

"Not in the slightest," he said. "Firstly all people make mistakes and he has paid the price.

"Secondly he is a colourful character that is part and parcel of him.

"I am sure he will be speaking highly of the good people of Swindon."

About 120 people will attend the dinner, at which Coun Tomlinson and Robert Buckland, who will stand for the Conservatives in South Swindon, will also give speeches about their campaigns and the election.

"It is a boost for the local Conservative Party ahead of the general election," Coun Tomlinson said. "We are hoping he will be giving us a bit of a rally cry."

He said he hoped Mr Johnson would be speaking about some of the issues that would be central to the general election.

Haydon Wick councillor Wayne Lawley helped set up the visit because he has links to the Henley Conservatives.

Mr Johnson told the Adver he was looking forward to coming to Swindon.

He said: "I am of course delighted to be coming to Swindon to support the local association and our wonderful prospective candidates.

"I am sure a fun evening will be had by all."

Why he decided to apologise

BORIS Johnson left the Conservative front bench after he was in the news for two months last year.

Mr Johnson, a married father-of-four, was sacked from his positions as shadow arts minister and party vice-chairman after lying about claims he had an affair.

Mr Johnson had dismissed the original allegations as "an inverted pyramid of piffle'' and Michael Howard was said to have made the decision because he lied about the claims, not because of the allegations themselves. The sacking, in November, came a month after Mr Johnson was forced to visit Liverpool to apologise when a Spectator editorial accused Liverpudlians of wallowing in grief over the murder in Iraq of hostage Ken Bigley, an engineer from the city.

The piece also said the Hillsborough disaster was caused by drunken fans.

Mr Johnson took responsibility for the article, which did not have a name on it, and apologised for the offence.

Isabel Field