The chief constable of West Yorkshire Police is not happy with the Prime Minister after he appeared alongside some of his student officers during a press conference.

John Robins accused Boris Johnson of using the recruits as a ‘backdrop’ to a political speech on Brexit and Jeremy Corbyn at the force’s operations and training complex in Wakefield yesterday.

He said the force had agreed for 35 officers to be used on the understanding it would be in connection with the Government’s police recruitment drive and had no prior knowledge the speech would be political.

Mr Robins said in a statement: ‘It was the understanding of West Yorkshire Police that any involvement of our officers was solely about police officer recruitment.

‘We had no prior knowledge that the speech would be broadened to other issues until it was delivered.’

Mr Robins said minutes before the speech he was told a scheduled visit to a National Police Air Service base had been cancelled, as well as a briefing to a pool of journalists.

He added: ‘I was therefore disappointed to see my police officers as a backdrop to the part of the speech that was not related to recruitment.’

During the address one of the student officers became unwell an collapsed.

Recruits had been standing for at least 20 minutes while waiting for the PM to start speaking.

Mr Johnson has faced widespread condemnation for using the student officers as part of his speech.

Hero PC Charlie Guenigault, who was stabbed by terrorists during an attack at London Bridge, said: ‘Thought we weren’t allowed to show any political allegiances.’

He added: ‘Looks exactly like that and sends off the wrong message.’

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