Boris Johnson has become Prime Minister after a meeting with the Queen in Buckingham Palace.
The Tory leader, whose progress to his meeting with the Queen was briefly disrupted by climate change protesters, was appointed after Theresa May resigned.
The new Prime Minister has made clear he will leave the European Union on October 31, with or without a deal, but Mrs May used her farewell statement to say his priority must be a Brexit “that works for the whole United Kingdom”.
Minutes after Mrs May left Buckingham Palace to offer her resignation to the Queen, Mr Johnson arrived to be appointed as her successor.
As his car drove along The Mall to the palace, banner-waving climate change protesters from Greenpeace attempted to impede its journey.
This afternoon, in an Audience with The Queen, The Right Honourable Theresa May MP tendered her resignation as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury. Her Majesty was graciously pleased to accept. https://t.co/IR70T3Ag3E pic.twitter.com/C1EhQpxEWO
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) July 24, 2019
May’s farewell speech in Downing Street was also disrupted, by a cry of “stop Brexit” from a protester outside, in reply she joked: “I think not.”
But she made clear her desire for Johnson to seek a deal with Brexit, having previously warned about the risks of a no-deal departure.
Flanked by husband Philip, she said: “I repeat my warm congratulations to Boris on winning the Conservative leadership election.
“I wish him and the Government he will lead every good fortune in the months and years ahead.
“Their successes will be our country’s successes, and I hope that they will be many.”
But she added: “Of course, much remains to be done – the immediate priority being to complete our exit from the European Union in a way that works for the whole United Kingdom.
“With success in that task can come a new beginning for our country – a national renewal that can move us beyond the current impasse into the bright future the British people deserve.”
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