Boris Johnson warned Conservative Party colleagues to put recent infighting behind them and unite behind new Prime Minister Liz Truss as he said farewell to Downing Street.
In a historic speech in front of No10’s famous black door, Mr Johnson acknowledged the “tough times” ahead for the UK’s economy as millions of families face soaring energy bills but added he was confident the country would come through it.
Cheered on and applauded by a group of loyal MPs and ministers who tried to drown out the music and heckles from protesters, Mr Johnson also attempted to scotch rumours of a comeback insisting he was “like one of those booster rockets that has fulfilled its function”.
But he made a barbed reference to the mutiny by Conservative MPs, which forced him to resign in July, paving the way for a bitter leadership contest ultimately won by by Ms Truss on Monday.
Speaking before he flew to Scotland to formally resign in a private audience with the Queen at Balmoral, Mr Johnson said: “In only a couple of hours from now 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 half-way through - but never mind that now.”
Mr Johnson’s used his final speech as Prime Minister to highlight what he believes will be his legacy after just over three years in No10: delivering Brexit, the Covid-19 vaccine roll out and supplying weapons to Ukraine to fight Vladimir Putin.
But he also highlighted his record on fighting crime, the NHS, delivering faster broadband and developing greener energy technologies.
However, with Ms Trusss expected to announce within days a £100billion plan to help avert what has been described as a “catastrophic” rise in energy bills this autumn, the outgoing premier devoted a large part of his speech to the cost of living crisis facing the country, blaming Mr Putin’s war for driving up gas prices.
He said: “We have and will continue to have that economic strength to give people the cash they need to get through this energy crisis that has been caused by Putin’s vicious war.
“And I know that Liz Truss and this compassionate Conservative government will do everything we can to get people through this crisis. And this country will endure it and we will win. And if Putin thinks that he can succeed by blackmailing or bullying the British people then he is utterly deluded.”
In a clear message to his party, he went on: “This is a tough time for the economy. This is a tough time for families up and down the country. We can and we will get through it and we will come out stronger the other side but I say to my fellow Conservatives it is time for the politics to be over folks and it’s time for us all to get behind Liz Truss and her programme.”
Watched by his wife Carrie, who walked out of No10 with her husband before standing with some of his closest allies including outgoing Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries and his sister Rachel, Mr Johnson said he would now be stepping out of the limelight.
In typically colourful language Mr Johnson said: “On the subject of bouncing around and future careers, let me say that I am now like one of those booster rockets that has fulfilled its function and I will now be gently re-entering the atmosphere and splashing down invisibly in some remote and obscure corner of the pacific.
“And like Cincinnatus I am returning to my plough and I will be offering this government nothing but the most fervent support.”
Boris Johnson well knows that Cincinnatus retired and then came back (as dictator) when Rome needed him. A famous example of not leaving the job. He can’t help himself.
— Stig Abell (@StigAbell) September 6, 2022
However his reference to Cincinnatus, a Roman statesman who gave up power to return to his farm, is unlikely to end speculation over his future ambitions. The Roman leader is said by some historians to have returned to power some years later.
Many of Mr Johnson’s supporters remain anggry at the way he was forced to quit after his premiership became tainted by partygate and allegations of sleaze.
After completing his farewell address Mr Johnson shook hands and said goodbye to his loyal backers who had assembled in a large group to the right of No10. They included senior ministers Brexit Minister Jacob Rees Mogg, COP26 President Alok Sharma, Leader of the Commons Mark Spencer, Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace. With the sun shining brightly he then climbed into his official car for one of the last times to be taken to RAF Northholt for his flight to Scotland.
Tory peer and minister Lord Goldsmith - one of Mr Johnson’s closest allies - told the Standard after the speech that Mr Johnson has a “proud legacy”.
And Conservative MP for Reigate Crispin Blunt added: “The people there were very largely the people who held solid for him and weren’t stampeded by an agenda that now looks less legitimate by the day.
“He is quite right to say we owe the Prime Minister our support. We have got to make this work for the country. the combination of the financial hangover from Covid and the Ukraine crisis is an enormous challenge in any circumstances. We must all wwish her and her team well.”
Therese Coffey, the Work and Pensions Secretary, who is close to Ms Truss and tipped for a top job in her new Cabinet, said she was sure Tory colleagues would still be sore after a brusing summer for the party.
But she added: “Boris in the end decided to resign and I know it wasn’t the happiest of circumstances for him, but this will not be the last we hear of Boris Johnson I am certain of that.”
