Outgoing prime minister Boris Johnson today told MPs he will be leaving office “with my head held high”
During the first PMQ’s since his resignation, and one that got off to a very raucous start, Johnson reiterated his stance on the success of his tenure.
“It’s perfectly true that I leave not at a time of my choosing,”
“It is absolutely true. But I am proud of the fantastic teamwork that has been involved in all of those projects, both nationally and internationally. I’m also proud of the leadership that I have given. I will be leaving soon with my head held high.”
Showing support for the 8 Conservative candidates running to replace him, Johnson said they would all “wipe the floor” with the Labour leader Keir Starmer, who he referred to as “Captain Crasheroony Snoozefest”.
Starmer himself responded by criticising the leadership candidates, reserving his greatest ire for Rishi Sunak.
“What were you doing for two years as chancellor of the exchequer?” he demanded, every time Sunak mentioned his goal to rebuild the economy.
Scotland and the potential Indyref2 was also a key focus for today’s PMQs. SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said that while the Conservative leadership candidates focus on “tax cuts for the rich”, people across Scotland are struggling to put food on the table or heat their homes.
He added: “Scotland cannot afford the cost of living with Westminster”.
Blackford also claimed that the Conservative leadership contest is was “descending into a toxic race to the right” and that compared with the candidates “Genghis Khan looks like a Moderate”
But Johnson stood by his long-held belief that Scotland must remain part of the UK and said the next leader of the Conservatives will work with the Scottish government “to protect and secure our union” adding “we are much, much better together”.
