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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Dave Burke

Boris Johnson's resignation speech interrupted by boombox blasting 'Bye Bye Boris'

One of Boris Johnson's loudest critics says he is "absolutely elated" to have made his mark on the PM's humiliating resignation speech - by blasting parody song Bye Bye Boris.

Anti- Brexit campaigner Steve Bray, known as Stop Brexit Man, held an amplifier aloft near the gates of Downing Street during the historic address, which was broadcast around the world.

The song, a take on the Bay City Rollers' track Bye Bye Baby, could be heard as Mr Johnson voiced his sorrow at leaving the job.

It happened less than a fortnight after Mr Bray had his speakers confiscated by police under new Tory legislation targeting protesters.

The campaigner, from Port Talbot in Wales, said he rushed back to Parliament when he heard the PM's announcement was imminent.

He told The Mirror: "It was absolutely fantastic.

"I was in the road holding the amp above my head, I'm 53 now and it's not the lightest. Around me people were cheering and clapping, they loved it."

Anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray blasted out parody song Bye Bye Boris as the PM made his resignation speech (Vuk Valcic/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)

When told that the song could very clearly be heard on TV as the PM spoke, Mr Bray said: "I'm absolutely elated.

"I just hope the Bay City Rollers don't have anything to say about their tune being used like that.

"It's all about getting the message heard around the world."

Mr Bray said that although Mr Johnson's time at the top of government is nearly up, his own activism would continue.

"Getting rid of him is a small step, but it's a b***** good start," he stated.

He earlier treated crowds outside Parliament to the Benny Hill Theme as TV interviewers spoke to MPs about Mr Johnson's impending departure.

Stop Brexit campaigner Steve Bray said he was delighted the song could be heard (REUTERS)

Actor Hugh Grant had earlier addressed him on Twitter, asking: "Do you by any chance have the Benny Hill music to hand?"

Mr Bray later shared a video, writing: "Just for @HackedOffHugh as requested here today at the media circus… College Green. The Benny Hill theme tune."

He told The Mirror: "It's been a fantastic day."

Last month The Mirror reported police had seized two speakers from Mr Bray's protest on a traffic island on the corner of Whitehall - after the new Policing Act expanded the size of a prohibited area where such devices are banned.

It's understood Mr Bray had been told by officers that if he persisted in using his amplified speakers, he risked being arrested.

But after having his equipment returned, he said he plans to continue demonstrating outside Parliament, using a loophole allowing him to blast music from public property.

In his speech Mr Johnson said: "In the last few days, I tried to persuade my colleagues that it would be eccentric to change governments when we're delivering so much and when we have such a vast mandate and when we're actually only a handful of points behind in the polls, even in mid-term after quite a few months of pretty relentless sledging and when the economic scene is so difficult domestically and internationally.

"And I regret not to have been successful in those arguments and of course it's painful not to be able to see through so many ideas and projects myself.

"But as we've seen at Westminster, the herd instinct is powerful and when the herd moves, it moves.

"And my friends in politics, no-one is remotely indispensable and our brilliant and Darwinian system will produce another leader, equally committed to taking this country forward through tough times."

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