Boris Johnson bids farewell, asks U.K. to back Truss Government

Ms. Truss said she will announce a plan within a week of assuming office to tackle the immediate energy price issue and longer-term supply issues

Addressing his colleagues, the press, and Britons outside No. 10 Downing Street, on a partially sunny morning, outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked people to unite behind U.K. Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister-designate Liz Truss’ new government. His speech was laced with humour, sarcasm, and references to classics that suggested he may one day return to frontline politics.

Mr. Johnson was not permitted to complete his term as Prime Minister after his government, hit by scandals, such as Mr. Johnson and other officials breaking strict lockdown rules in 2020 and 2021 to attend parties, lost the support of much of the cabinet.

“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,” he said.

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The Prime Minister in waiting was not in the crowd outside Downing Street. Mr. Johnson’s former Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, the other contender for his position, was conspicuous by his absence. Mr. Sunak was one of the first to quit the Johnson cabinet in July. Cabinet officials had resigned en mass in July resulting in the ouster of Mr. Johnson and an intra-party contest to find his replacement.

During the Conservative hustings in August, Mr. Sunak claimed that “perhaps not surprisingly” Mr. Johnson was not returning his calls, a claim Mr. Johnson did not deny. Ms. Truss stayed on in his cabinet as Foreign Secretary - a factor that may have assisted her in winning over Tory members, over 140,000 of whom voted in the internal party elections to choose their next leader.

Mr. Johnson cited among his government’s achievements: finalising Brexit, the speed at which a Covid-19 vaccine was rolled out, the low unemployment rate (3.8%), and infrastructure projects. He also said Britain supplying weapons to Ukraine may have changed the course of the war with Russia. In addition to Britain’s position on the Russia-Ukraine war, Mr. Johnson cited AUKUS, a new security alliance with the U.S. and Australia launched in 2021, as an example of Britain “standing tall” in the world .