Boris Johnson today raised the prospect he could miss his last ever PMQs - or make an early exit from Downing Street.
It’s understood the Prime Minister plans to go to Buckingham Palace to hand his resignation to the Queen on September 6, the day after his successor is named.
But despite today being his second-last Prime Minister’s Questions, he spoke at times as if it was the last one, saying he would leave with his “head held high”.
And he said if one of the two final Tory leadership candidates dropped out early, he could be out of office by next week.
"The next leader of my party may be elected by acclamation so it's possible this will be our last confrontation... it's possible," he told Labour leader Keir Starmer.
Boris Johnson ’s Press Secretary said there were “no plans” for him to skip his final PMQs next week - but did not rule it out.
“The Prime Minister will be doing PMQs next week as things currently stand,” she told journalists.
Mr Johnson’s official spokesman also did not rule out him making foreign trips before he resigns as PM in September.
Some observers have questioned if he could travel, for example, to Kyiv to visit Ukraine ’s President Zelensky or to Japan to honour murdered PM Shinzo Abe.
No10 declined to comment on whether he would go on any foreign trips before September 6. A spokesman said: “It’s possible, we haven’t finalised any plans for travel at this stage.”
No10 refused to say whether the PM would rip out any of the £112,000 of furnishings he ended up paying to have put in the Downing Street flat - after originally trying to get a donor to foot the bill.
“That’s not a question I’ve asked,” his Press Secretary said.
No10 was also unable to say if the PM has started drawing up his resignation honours list, which could hand final gongs to cronies.
It comes after the Prime Minister broke cover in Parliament for the first time since he sensationally resigned on Thursday.
After sleaze scandals over parties, ethics, donors and the £112k renovation of his flat, he finally forced out by his own MPs over claims he lied about what he knew of sexual harassment claims against a whip.
But in a rowdy session that saw two MPs get chucked out, Mr Johnson today said he was “proud” of his record in a defiant statement.
It came even as Tory leadership contenders jostle to wipe out his record on tax and the government tables a confidence vote in itself on Monday.
The PM jokingly thanked Keir Starmer for being “considerably less lethal than other members of this House,” adding: “Over three years in spite of every opportunity, he’s never really come up with an idea, a plan or a vision for this country.”
Despite Northern Ireland being unresolved and in chaos Mr Johnson added: “At the end of three years we got Brexit done, which he voted against 48 times.”
Tying his successors’ hands despite them pledging spending cuts, he added: “Every one of the eight candidates will continue with the biggest ever programme of infrastructure, skills and technology across this country.”
He went on: “It’s perfectly true that I leave not at a time of my choosing. It’s absolutely true.
“But I am proud of the fantastic teamwork that has been involved in all of those projects, both nationally and internationally.
“And I’m also proud of the leadership that I have given.
“And I will be leaving soon with my head held high.”
Earlier, leadership candidate Nadhim Zahawi said he would offer his "friend" Boris Johnson a Cabinet job - if he wanted it. But No10 have not even guaranteed the PM, who has remarked he could earn more with journalism, will stay on as an MP - let alone a minister where second jobs are severely limited.
