Here is the full text of Boris Johnson’s 372-second resignation speech as he confirmed he is stepping down as prime minister:
‘Good afternoon.
“It is now clearly the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party for a new leader to come from that party and thus a new prime minister.
“I agree with Sir Graham Brady, the backbench chair of our MPs, that the process of electing that new leader will now begin.
The timetable will be announced next week and I have appointed a cabinet today to serve as I will until a new leader is appointed.
“So I want to thank the millions of people who voted for us in 2019 – many of them voting Conservative for the first time – for that incredible mandate.
The largest Conservative majority since 1987, the largest share of the vote since 1979.
“The reason I’ve fought so hard over the past few days to continue to carry out that mandate personally was not just because I wanted to do it, but because I felt it was my job, my duty, my duty to you to keep going.” doing what we promised in 2019.
“Obviously I am immensely proud of the achievements of this government, of getting Brexit done, arranging our relations with the continent for over half a century, reclaiming the power for this country to pass its own laws.” to make parliament, all of us through the pandemic, deliver the fastest vaccine rollout in Europe, the quickest way out of lockdown and – in the last few months – lead the West in resisting Putin’s aggression in Ukraine.
“Now let me say to the people of Ukraine that I know that we in the UK will continue to support your fight for freedom for as long as it takes.
“At the same time, in this country we have pushed forward a massive investment program in infrastructure, skills and technology – the largest in a century.
‘Because if I have one insight into man, it is that genius and talent and enthusiasm and imagination are equally distributed among the population, but opportunities are not.
That’s why we need to keep leveling up, unleashing the potential of every part of the UK.
‘If we can do that in this country, we will be the most prosperous in Europe.
“Over the past few days, I’ve been trying to convince my colleagues that it would be eccentric to change governments when we deliver so much and have such a big mandate and are actually only a handful of points behind in the polls.
“Even in the medium term after quite a few months of quite relentless sledding and when the economic situation at home and abroad is so difficult.
‘I regret that I did not succeed in those arguments and of course it is painful not to be able to see through so many ideas and projects myself.
“But as we’ve seen in Westminster, the herd instinct is powerful and when the herd moves, it moves.
‘My friends, in politics no one is remotely indispensable.
“Our brilliant and Darwinian system will produce a new leader equally committed to moving this country forward through difficult times.
“Not just helping families get through it, but changing and improving the way we do things – reducing the burden on businesses and families and, yes, lowering taxes.
“Because that’s the way to generate the growth and income we need to pay for great public services.
“To that new leader, whoever he or she is, I say I will support you as much as I can.
“And for you, the British public, I know that there will be many people who will be relieved and perhaps quite a few who will be disappointed as well.
“I want you to know how sad I am to give up the best job in the world, but those are the breaks.
“I want to thank Carrie and our children and all the members of my family who have endured so much for so long.
‘I want to thank the peerless British civil service for all the help and support you have given.
“Our police, our emergency services and of course our fantastic NHS who – at a critical time – helped extend my own term in office.
“As are our armed forces and our agencies that are so admired around the world.
And our tireless Conservative Party members and supporters who conduct selfless campaigns that make our democracy possible.
“I want to thank the wonderful staff here at number 10 and of course at Checkers and our fantastic Prot. Force detectives – the only group, by the way, that never leaks.
“I especially want to thank you, the British public, for the immense privilege you have given me.
“I want you to know that from now on until the new Prime Minister is appointed, your interests will be served and the government of the country will continue.
‘Being Prime Minister is an education in itself – I have traveled to every part of the UK and, in addition to the beauty of our natural world, I have found so many people who possess such boundless British originality and so willing to tackle old problems. pack in new ways.
“So I know that even if things may seem dark now, our future together is golden.”