Boris Johson final speech today: Outgoing PM promises ‘fervent’ support to Liz Truss

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said BorisJohnson was listing “imaginary achievements” in his resignation speech, describing him as “the worst prime minister of the modern era”.

“Boris Johnson standing outside Downing Street listing imaginary achievements in a desperate attempt to claim a legacy is not going to fool anyone,” Mr Lammy tweeted.

“He was exposed as a liar and a charlatan. Good riddance to the worst prime minister of the modern era.”

Boris 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.”

Boris Johnson claimed the Conservatives “changed the rules” as he complained about his removal from office during his final speech as prime minister.

The outgoing Tory leader said he was passing “the torch” to Liz Truss, before making a bitter reference to the revolt which saw him forced out just three years after his 2019 general election victory.

Political correspondent Adam Forrest has the full story:

Boris Johnson celebrated the success of the vaccines rollout as he delivered his final speech from No 10 as prime minister.

He said: “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 per cent 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.”

Tory MPs and officials who had gathered at Downing Street to watch the outgoing prime pinister’s speech laughed as he compared himself to a “booster rocket that has fulfilled its purpose” jetting off into distant lands as he resigned his post.

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.

Boris Johnson said “this is it folks” as he kicked off his valedictory speech in Downing Street.

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.”

Boris Johnson has said he will be offering “fervent support” to Liz Truss’ government during a “tough time” for households across the country.

Boris Johnson has begun his speech outside Number 10 by saying “this is it, folks”.

He has highlighted his government’s record on Brexit, supporting Ukraine and the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.

Nadine Dorries and Rachel Johnson have arrived outside 10 Downing Street

A crowd of officials has gathered at either side of the door to Number 10 in anticipation of Boris Johnson’s resignation speech.

A podium is in place a few yards in front of the door and hundreds of journalists are poised for his address, due at 7.30am.