24th July 2019

Boris Johnson: May bidding farewell before new PM takes office

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By BBC

BBC - Theresa May is taking MPs' questions for the final time before Boris Johnson becomes prime minister.

She told them she would continue as a constituency MP and was happy to hand over to a successor committed to delivering Brexit and creating "a bright future for this country".

Later, she will deliver a farewell speech in Downing Street before Mr Johnson takes power.

He will speak outside No 10 then begin announcing senior cabinet posts.

Mr Johnson is expected to use the opportunity to increase the number of women in full cabinet positions and boost the representation of ethnic minorities - sources say his top team will reflect "modern Britain".

At PMQs, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn paid tribute to Mrs May's "respect for public service", but criticised her record on the economy, homelessness and Brexit.

He asked whether she would consider joining him "in opposing the reckless plans of her successor".

She, in reply, listed what she felt were her achievements, including school improvements, more employment and greater home ownership.

"At its heart, politics isn't about exchanges across these despatch boxes, nor about eloquent speeches or media headlines," she said. "It is about the difference we make every day to the lives of people up and down this country."

In a parting shot at Mr Corbyn, she added: "As a party leader who has accepted when her time was up, perhaps the time is now for him to do the same."

Former London mayor Mr Johnson won a decisive victory over Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt in a ballot of Tory members - gaining a 66.4% total share of the vote.

Conversations are said to be "ongoing" between Mr Hunt and Mr Johnson about the foreign secretary's next role.

The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg says Mr Johnson's choice of his top team is critical in his efforts to bring the warring factions of his party together.

Mr Johnson is resolute that his leadership rival should not stay on at the Foreign Office, but Mr Hunt is firm that he won't accept anything less than his current role - or becoming home secretary, chancellor or deputy prime minister - and considers other moves a demotion.

Our political editor says it is a risky decision for the new PM - forcing Mr Hunt out would be a bad move in terms of uniting the party, but giving in to his refusal to budge is a challenge to his authority.

Meanwhile, Dominic Cummings, the former chief of the Vote Leave campaign, is expected to become a senior adviser to the new prime minister.

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