Kicking off his valedictory speech in Downing Street, Boris Johnson told the nation "this is it folks."
Speaking on his last day as Prime Minister, he highlighted his government's record on Brexit, supporting Ukraine and the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.
The outgoing Prime Minister emerged from the door of Number 10 with his wife Carrie, to give his farewell speech to a huge gathering of the world's press as Liz Truss prepares to take over the premiership.
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Wearing a grey suit and blue tie, Mr Johnson was applauded by a plethora of Tory MPs and officials as he approached the podium.
"This is it folks," he said. "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."
Celebrating the success of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, Mr Johnson added: "Through that lacquered black door, a new prime minister will shortly go to meet a fantastic group of public servants.
"The people who got Brexit done. The people who delivered the fastest vaccine rollout in Europe, and never forget 70% of the entire population got a dose within six months – faster than any comparable country. That is government for you. That’s this Conservative government."
Mr Johnson emphasised the early delivery of weapons to Ukraine and the economic support offered to the public, saying his successor would "get people through this crisis."
He said the "early supplies of weapons to the heroic Ukrainian Armed Forces" may "very well have helped change the course of the biggest European war of 80 years."
He praised his Government for getting “this economy moving again from July last year despite all the opposition”, saying it meant that “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”.
Mr Johnson also said: “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 if Putin thinks that he can succeed by blackmailing or bullying the British people, then he is utterly deluded.”
The outgoing Prime Minister said if his dog Dilyn and Larry the cat can "put behind them their occasional difficulties", then so can the Tory party.
He said: "Thank you to everybody behind me in this building. Thank you to all of you in Government. Thank you everybody who’s helped look after me and my family over the last three years, including Dilyn the dog.
"I just say to my party if Dilyn and Larry can put behind them their occasional difficulties, then so can the Conservative Party.
"Above all, thanks to you, to the British people, to the voters, for giving me the chance to serve, all of you who worked so tirelessly together to beat Covid, to put us where we are today.
"Together, we have laid foundations that will stand the test of time, whether by taking back control of our laws or putting in vital new infrastructure, great solid masonry on which we will continue to build together, paving the path of prosperity now and for future generations.
"I will be supporting Liz Truss and the new government every step of the way."
Referring to the cost of living crisis, Mr Johnson urged his Tory colleagues to put politics aside to focus on a solution for struggling families across the country.
He said: "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’s time for politics to be over, folks.
"It’s time for us all to get behind Liz Truss and her team, and her programme, and deliver for the people of this country. Because that is what the people of this country want. That’s what they need. And that’s what they deserve."
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.
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