Prime Minister Boris Johnson has given a farewell speech outside 10 Downing Street ahead of resigning in Balmoral later this morning. Mr Johnson started his speech by saying 'this is it folks' before saying his premiership had unexpectedly become a relay race when the 'rules changed halfway through'.
He went on to set out his recent victories - including getting Brexit done, rolling out the Covid vaccine, supporting Ukraine and helping people through the cost of living crisis.
He said: “This is it folks. Thank you everybody for coming out so early this morning. In only a couple of hours I will be in Balmoral to see Her Majesty the Queen and the torch will finally be passed to a new Conservative leader.
“The baton will be handed over in what has unexpectedly turned out to be a relay race. They changed the rules halfway through, but never mind that now.”
Liz Truss will meet the Queen later today and will officially become Prime Minister.
Mr Johnson, who also hailed successes in renewable energy, NHS reform, broadband rollout and high-speed rail, said his future will be 'remote and obscure' but vowed to support the Government. He said: "It's time for us all to get behind Liz Truss, her team and her program."
As soon as Boris Johnson began his speech, protesters began playing “Bye Bye Boris” from Kings Charles Street, which runs parallel to Downing Street.
The song is a remix of “Bye Bye Baby” which anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray and his supporters often play during protests.
Others could be heard shouting from Whitehall.
Tory MPs and officials who had gathered at Downing Street to watch the outgoing Prime Minister’s speech laughed as he compared himself to a “booster rocket” jetting off into distant lands as he resigned his post.
Tory MPs who had gathered to watch Boris Johnson’s farewell speech at Downing Street broke into cheers as he finished his address.
Mr Johnson held his wife’s hand and shook hands with officials as he left the street to rapturous applause.
