Boris Johnson took aim at his critics in a churlish resignation speech today.
Speaking on the steps of Downing Street, the departing Prime Minister complained that he had been ousted before he could complete his plans to transform Britain.
To his side stood his wife Carrie with their baby Romy and a handful of Tory MPs who had remained loyal to the end.
Even at the sunset of his career Mr Johnson could not help himself from making false claims and exaggerated statements.
There were also sly digs at his detractors and those who had brought about his downfall.
This is what he said and what it means:
What he said:
"I want to say to the millions of people who voted for us in 2019, many of them voting Conservative for the first time, thank you for that incredible mandate, the biggest Conservative majority since 1987, the biggest share of the vote since 1979.
"And the reason I have fought so hard in the last few days to continue to deliver that mandate in person was not just because I wanted to do so, but because I felt it was my job, my duty, my obligation to you to continue to do what we promised in 2019.”
What it means:
These words show that Boris Johnson still believes he has been unfairly treated given his success at the 2019 general election.
He is telling the Conservative MPs who turned against him they are insulting the voters who put in him office.
His reference to “duty and obligation” ring hollow from a man who has shown no respects for standards in public life.
What he said:
"I'm immensely proud of the achievements of this Government, from getting Brexit done to settling our relations with the continent for over half a century, reclaiming the power for this country to make its own laws in Parliament, getting us all through the pandemic, delivering the fastest vaccine rollout in Europe, the fastest exit from lockdown, and, in the last few months, leading the West in standing up to Putin's aggression in Ukraine."
What it means:
An alternative list of “achievements” could include the biggest cost of living crisis for a generation, the longest NHS waiting list in history and an economy that is heading towards recession.
While Mr Johnson deserves credit for his stance on Ukraine, his handling of Covid saw more than 20,000 deaths in care homes.
The vaccine rollout was the fastest to start in Europe but the UK vaccination rate was quickly overtaken by EU countries.
Brexit is not done as the Government is threatening to rip up the Northern Ireland protocol.
What he said:
“In this country we've been pushing forward a vast programme of investment in infrastructure and skills and technology, the biggest in a century.
"Because if I have one insight into human beings, it is that genius and talent and enthusiasm and imagination are evenly distributed throughout the population, but opportunity is not, and that's why we must keep levelling up, keep unleashing the potential of every part of the United Kingdom.
"If we can do that in this country, we will be the most prosperous in Europe."
What it means:
What Johnson did not say is Britain is forecast to have the slowest rate of growth of any major economy apart from Russia.
Nor did he acknowledge that cuts to public services and to benefits are holding back people from “unleashing” their potential.
The Prime Minister’s flagship levelling up programme has been stuck on the sidelines because the Treasury has refused to release the necessary funds.
What he 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 midterm after quite a few months of pretty relentless sledging and when the economic scene is so difficult domestically and internationally.
"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, when the herd moves, it moves.”
What it means:
Mr Johnson cannot hide his bitterness at being ousted and remains in denial as to why he was brought down.
He tried to trivialise the mass revolt by Tory MPs and ministers as “sledging.”
There was no contrition over partygate, which saw him become the first Prime Minister to be fined while in office, or his handling of the Chris Pincher scandal.
Nor was there any acknowledgement of the fact that his personal poll ratings are rock bottom and his unpopularity was behind the crushing Tory defeats in the recent Tiverton & Honiton and Wakefield by-elections.
What he said:
“Our brilliant and Darwinian system will produce another leader equally committed to taking this country forward through tough times, not just helping families to get through it but changing and improving the way we do things.
“Cutting burdens on businesses and families and yes, cutting taxes, because that is the way to generate the growth and the income we need to pay for great public services.
What it means:
This Johnson attempting to rewrite history. Since he came to power in 2019 there have been 15 new tax rises. The tax burden is now the highest since the 1940s.
Burdens on business have increased as a result of his Brexit deal. The Office for Budget Responsibility yesterday warned that soaring energy prices and rocketing inflation could push the UK into recession. It also said the level of government debt was unsustainable unless there were spending cuts or tax rises.
What he said:
"It is clearly now the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader of that party and therefore a new Prime Minister.
"And I've agreed with Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of our backbench MPs, that the process of choosing that new leader should begin now and the timetable will be announced next week.
"And I've today appointed a Cabinet to serve, as I will, until a new leader is in place."
What it means:
Completely absent from this statement was any indication of when he will stand down. Downing Street is in a stand off with Conservative MPs over the timing. Many ministers and backbenchers argue it is unfeasible for him to stay on in office for more than a few days.
No 10 has signalled the Prime Minister wants to stay in office until a new leader is chosen at the Conservative Party conference in October.
What he said:
“I want to thank the peerless British civil service for all the help and support you’ve given, our police, our emergency services, and of course our fantastic NHS who at a critical moment helped to extend my own period in office.
“As well as our armed services and our agencies that are so admired around the world, and our indefatigable Conservative Party members and supporters whose selfless campaigning makes our democracy possible.
“I want to thank the wonderful staff here, at Chequers, here at No10, and our fantastic protforce detectives - the one group, by the way, who never leak.”
What it means:
His warm words for the NHS will stick in the craw of doctors and nurses who fighting for a pay rise.
His praise for the civil service will also raise eyebrows given he oversaw a clear out of officials who stood up to ministers in his government.
But the most startling part of this speech was the way he singled out the detectives for not leaking.
The Prime Minister is clearly insinuating that he has been the victim of untrustworthy colleagues and staff in other parts of his administration.
What he said:
"To that new leader, I say, whoever he or she may be, I say: 'I will give you as much support as I can'.
"To you, the British public, I know that there will be many people who are relieved and perhaps quite a few who will also be disappointed.
"I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world."
What it means:
This is far from an absolute commitment to back the next leader to the hilt. Mr Johnson only pledges to give as much “support as I can.”
If it was the best job in the world why did he squander his time in office by breaking the rules, misleading MPs and failing to uphold the standards expected of the Prime Minister?
