François Fillon's spokesperson quits presidential campaign as Juppé gains ground

French presidential candidate François Fillon’s spokesperson has quit his campaign, in another blow to the former prime minister amid an inquiry into a ‘fake jobs’ scandal and as a rival gains ground.

Thierry Solère MP, Fillon’s chief campaign spokesman, was the latest member of nearly 70 politicians to quit on Friday.

The exodus comes as Fillon was summoned to appear before magistrates about an investigation that public funds were used to pay his wife for work she did not do.

He vowed on Thursday to carry on with his campaign after pulling out of a key visit to a French agricultural fair, but he is facing growing pressure to pull out of the race.

Former prime minister Alain Juppé, who was seen as the favourite in primaries for the Les Republicains but was beaten by Fillon, could be willing to take his place.

Sources told Agence France-Presse that Juppé “will not refuse if all the conditions are met - Francois Fillon has to take the decision to pull out himself and the right wing and centre camps... have to be united behind him".

The fake jobs scandal has led to Fillon dropping to third place in recent polls for the first round, behind far right candidate Marine Le Pen and centrist independent Emmanuel Macron. Fillon was at one point considered the favourite to make it to the second round and win the presidency.

According to betting firm Betfair, Juppé is now third favourite at 4/1 having traded at 989/1 to become the next French president.