David Lammy tweet sums up reaction to Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary: 'God help us'

'Is this a bad dream?'

There have been a lot of raised eyebrows following Theresa May's decision to appoint Mr Johnson, leader of the Brexit campaign, as foreign minister. (Getty )

Labour MP David Lammy has summed up the reaction to Boris Johnson's appointment as Foreign Secretary in a single tweet.

Several hours after Theresa May's decision to make Mr Johnson foreign minister, Mr Lammy, MP for Tottenham, took to Twitter to express his reaction.

In what seemed to be a joke masking genuine concern about Mr Johnson's appointment as the UK's minister for foreign affairs, Mr Lammy asked whether it was "a bad dream", adding: "God help us".

He wrote: "Boris Johnson as our Foreign Secretary? Is this a bad dream? An elaborate wind up? Please God help us."

The tweet was shared more than 1,000 times and Twitter users reacted with further irony and sarcasm.

One said: "I am genuinely terrified", while another joked that "World War Three" was on its way.

Another replied with a cartoon of Mr Johnson walking smugly away from a London in ruins, while others expressed real concern for the serious effects they believe the appointment will have on the world.

Other Labour MPs have expressed their shock at Mr Johnson's appointment.

Angela Eagle, who heard the news while she was speaking at a campaign event, released a weary sigh before turning her back on the audience.

Meanwhile Chuka Umunna, MP for Streatham, tweeted that Mr Johnson's first meeting with President Obama would be "interesting" and joked he should start with the word "sorry".

There have been a lot of raised eyebrows following Ms May's decision to appoint Mr Johnson, leader of the Brexit campaign, as foreign minister.

People are particularly shocked after the numerous times he has insulted world leaders.

Since his appointment Mr Johnson has said the United States would be “in the front of the queue”.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Johnson said: “Clearly now we have a massive opportunity in this country to make a great success of our relationship with Europe and with the world.

"I'm very excited to be asked to play a part in that.”