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THERESA MAY HAS held her final Prime Minister’s Questions and Boris Johnson is now the British Prime Minister.
After Theresa May handed in her resignation to the Queen, who accepted it, Johnson was called to Buckingham Palace to be asked to form a new government.
Now that he’s sworn in, he’s returning to Number 10 Downing Street to make a speech, before announcing his first Cabinet appointments.
Here’s a more detailed piece about what to expect today – and stay with us here for live updates as we go…
Theresa May is being forced to defend Boris Johnson in her first question out of the gates.
Laughs in the chamber as she notes she “worked with him in Cabinet”.
There’s a packed chamber at the House of Commons today. We can expect the opposition to largely pull their punches this afternoon as May signs off.
Corbyn hasn’t started his questions yet.
No sign of Johnson in the chamber yet, by the looks of it.
You can watch live on Sky News – here’s a link.
Jeremy Corbyn begins his contribution by paying tribute to May’s sense of public service, and says he hopes she has a less stressful time on the backbenches.
Laughs for Corbyn’s gag as he says he hopes she may even join with him in fighting Boris’s damaging policies. A good-natured smile from the PM.
Here’s a view of the chamber…
Standing room only.
Corbyn is holding back on any personalised attacks but has been listing a series of stats on the Tory government’s record in recent years.
We’re getting back to more of a regular back-and-forth between the two leaders now.
At the end of his latest question, he lists some of the achievements of the government he actually does support.
His question about which one she’s most proud of appears to catch May a little off guard.
Here’s a clip of Corbyn saying nice things:
“Given that her successor has no mandate from the people” doesn’t May agree that the best thing for Johnson to do would be to call an election, Corbyn asks.
May’s response: “No.”
Time for May to say a few nice things about her opposite number now.
She says it’s a testament to the strength of the UK’s democracy that these weekly exchanges take place “at two swords’ length”.
She says she recognises Corbyn’s commitment to his constituency and has seen this in action.
But the positivity doesn’t last long. Signing off her answer she suggests that, having recognised her time as party leader was at an end perhaps he should realise his time in the top Labour position is also almost up.
Roars from the chamber at this barb. Laughter… General shouting? Hard to tell really.
The SNP leader at Westminster Ian Blackford says that while the Scottish party has had its differences with May they have also stood together on some issues, like the Salisbury attacks.
Some surprise from UK political journalists at May’s earlier jibe at Corbyn – perhaps a little off-tone for ‘dead rubber’ face-offs like this?
Things have calmed down a bit in the chamber now as government and opposition MPs raise some local issues and subjects of the day.
The DUP’s Nigel Dodds is now on his feet.
Thanks the outgoing PM for her work.
He also urged her to come to Northern Ireland to avail of “many walking opportunities”.
Seems we’ve a bit of a trend here. Most MPs addressing the outgoing prime minister are starting their speeches by having a pop at Jeremy Corbyn.
Case in point…
Harriet Harman with some gentle ribbing about hand holding there….May having a chuckle about it.
May now getting a standing ovation as she finishes her final Prime Minister’s questions.
And there we have it.
So that’s all from May for the moment. She’s expected to give a statement outside 10 Downing Street in the next 45 minutes.
Bit of breaking news here.
Philip Hammond has announced his resignation as Chancellor ahead of Boris Johnson entering Downing Street.
Gráinne Ní Aodha here taking over the Liveblog for Theresa May’s final moments as Prime Minister… which, as expected, has brought the resignation of Philip Hammond.
In his letter to Theresa May he said that “I believe that your successor must be free to choose a Chancellor who is fully aligned with his policy position.”
Johnson’s Etonian rival Cameron has just tweeted his congratulations to Johnson.
I wonder what took him so long – did he draft two possible responses?
Will the FaceApp craze never end.
Four resignations have come in succession, just as Theresa May goes to hand her resignation to the Queen of England.
The officials around Johnson are said to me Dominic Cummings as senior adviser, Eddie Lister, Johnson’s former chief while he was London mayor, and former ambassador David Frost.
The reaction to Cummings has been prickly, to say the least:
Oh. Oh dear.
Cummings seems devoted to the job anyways – enough to ask for an operation extension.
A crowd waits at the end of the street waiting for outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May to leave 10 Downing Street, on her way to Buckingham Palace.
David Lidington, Theresa May’s de facto deputy, has resigned as expected.
Formerly a Europe minister, Lidington was a ‘Remainer’ who worked closely with Tánaiste Simon Coveney:
“I wrote to Boris Johnson yesterday to congratulate him on his election, to wish him well & to say I’ve decided that after 20 years on the front bench it’s the right moment to move on. I shall leave the govt when Theresa May offers her resignation to The Queen.”
I shall do all I can to help new govt secure a deal to allow an orderly departure from the EU.
“Huge thanks to the civil servants in the Cabinet Office whom I’ve had the privilege to lead. The impartiality & professionalism of the civil service is one of the great strengths of our constitution. As is readiness of Ministers to encourage candid even when unwelcome, advice.
After more than two decades of collective responsibility I’m now relishing the prospect of speaking & campaigning freely for the things that matter to me & to my constituents.
And Gauke’s resignation as Justice Secretary, which again, was well flagged.
Theresa May wishes Johnson and his government every success, as she leaves 10 Downing Street before heading to Buckingham Palace.
Their successes will be our country’s successes.
“As I leave Downing Street, my final words are of sincere thanks.”
She thanks the public servants across the UK, her team at 10 Downing Street, and her colleagues.
“All inspired by the noble wish to serve in the national interest.”
I hope that every young girl who has seen a woman Prime Minister knows that there are no limits to what they can achieve.
She thanks her husband Philip who has been her “greatest supporter”.
In the middle of her speech, Theresa May was interrupted by a loud shout of “STOP BREXIT”. After those gathered laughed a bit, May responded with: “I think not”.
After three years in power, May leaves 10 Downing Street for the last time as Prime Minister.
It’s inevitable, but some are obviously still in denial…
As May heads to Buckingham Palace to hand in her resignation, and Johnson gears up to take over the UK and the Brexit mess that goes with it, this is the Financial Times’ round up of video clips to give us a glimpse of what we can expect:
My favourite tweet of the day everybody, despite knowing f-all about cricket.
Have you seen something better? Send it to me: grainne@thejournal.ie or @GAodha.
Some much needed light relief as we wait for the handover of power in one of the most powerful countries in the world – what’s your favourite ice lolly?
And what the hell is a ‘Fab’ …
The EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said that this is a very important moment for Brexit, and that the EU awaits to see the preference of the next Prime Minister.
Aren’t we all.
Frustrating for Labour supporters on both sides of the debate.
If you missed Theresa May’s final speech as Prime Minister, complete with the “STOP BREXIT” interruption, you can watch it here (though, we warn, there wasn’t much to it).
Theresa May’s chief whip Julian Smith handover the office to his replacement, Mark Spencer,
Nicky Morgan tweeted that Mark Spencer “is respected on all sides of the party” and Nicholas Soames tweeted that it was “a really excellent sane and wise choice.”
So it’s official: Theresa May is no longer Prime Minister.
The Right Honourable Theresa May MP had an Audience of The Queen this afternoon and tendered her resignation as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury, which Her Majesty was graciously pleased to accept.
Climate protesters tried to form a human chain to block Boris Johnson’s path to Buckingham Palace – never a dull moment.
They were a small group, but still forced Johnson’s car to stop as the police quickly moved them out of the way.
On that climate change protest – it’s been claimed by GreenPeace.
There’s a change of lectern at No 10 Downing Street already – from a warm wood to black, it seems…
An update on ‘lecturngate’ – it’s not black.
All that work by hancock seems to have worked in keeping him in a job…
A crowd has gathered outside 10 Downing Street, which are presumably Boris Johnson’s new team:
This from a former civil servant Matthew O’Toole is interesting:
For civil servants inside No 10, the bit between the old political team leaving and the new one arriving is surreal. Passes and phones are literally taken from outgoing spads who clear off home or to the pub.
It’s extremely weird.
Boris Johnson bowing his head to the Queen of England, and becoming the new British Prime Minister.
Nice try.
Johnson has started his speech as the next British Prime Minister outside 10 Downing Street, to the mumble of protesters in the background.
“The people who bet against Britain are going to lose their shirts.
The doubters, the doomsters are going to get it wrong again…We are going to come out of the EU on Oct 31, no ifs no buts, we will do a new deal, a better deal that will maximise the opportunities.
“I have every confidence that in 99 days time, we will have cracked it. But do you know what, we’re not going to wait 99 days because the British people have had enough of waiting.”
“I will take personal responsibility for the changes I want to see.”
“Never mind the backstop, the buck stops here. I’ll be the Prime Minister of the whole country,” Johnson pledges.
Johnson has referred to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as “the awesome foursome”.
To EU citizens he says, ironically: “You will have the absolutely certainty of the right to live and remain”.
He adds: “To our friends in Ireland, I am convinced we can do a deal without checks on Irish border.”
To those who say we cannot be ready, I say Do not underestimate this country… because we know the enormous strengths of this country.
It is here that we are using gene therapy for the first time to treat a form of blindness.
He also mentions creating ‘green jobs’, interesting, given the protests earlier.
Johnson lumps his pledge of Free Trade Deals in with protecting animal rights and welfare, as if it’s an afterthought…
Tusk is quick off the mark.
Interesting emphasis on detail there – something Johnson has been criticised for for being lacking in.
Boris Johnson’s partner Carrie Symonds, in the pink dress, waits for him to make a speech outside 10 Downing Street, London.
The media have been speculating a lot on whether she would take up residence with Johnson at 10 Downing Street, as Johnson is still married to another woman.
Here’s a quick look at Johnson’s speech. Tory MPs seem happy with it anyways.
David Frost confirmed as a Brexit point-man.
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Will he only visit cities with an Irish Embassy?
@Killian Ryan: and maybe the Ambassador can give him his room move into the 3k hotel for the night.
@Killian Ryan: no. Why make a mockery of a perfectly reasonable suggestion,
@Conor Thorne: It’s not reasonable. Loads of countries don’t have an Irish embassy. Consulates, little offices instead… He loves the army, I’m sure he has a good camp bed, sleeping bag and stove.
@Conor Thorne: most embassies don’t include the residence of Ambassadors!!! And their residences are often not large enough to allow for visitors. Just shows lack of knowledge of our foreign presence in other countries
@GClare: exactly, and it could end up costing more. Say for example its an event over a few days and the embassy is way across town, the cost of security to safely transport the President and of securing the embassy might be far in excess of using a local hotel with experience of hosting dignitaries. The reason why certain high end hotels are chosen over and over again for dignitaries of many different countries is because they have the experience, staff and infrastructure to deal with the situation. The Shelbourne would have loads of procedures and experience of dealing with foreign security teams, VIP’s and political staffs etc. The holiday inn simply wouldn’t be able to cope.
@Killian Ryan: The President of Ireland does not arrange his own accommodation abroad this is done by the Department of Foreign Affairs and he has/she would have no say as to what hotel stay in. I heard him on the six news and asking a young girl about voting she asked him why she should vote for him, and he then asked her what kind of Ireland she’d like to see for the future. Firstly, the President cannot change anything in Ireland the position is for the protection of the Constitution and representing the Irish people at home and abroad.
Wouldn’t worry about it Seán, you won’t be staying in any embassies.
Well isn’t he the great fella,
@Tim Oconnell: i can imagine the staff coming to work in the morning and having some old fella sleeping on their desk. I dont mind if someone travelling on business gets a hotel room. Its not unreasonable.
@Tim Oconnell: no time for this gimmicky stuff. The presidency casts money full stop. If we are going to scrimp and save, we should scrap the office. If these guys really want to make a difference they should become TDs.
@Henry Porter: I believe Michael D was a TD for years
SmartHomes made a combined loss of €1.2 million in 2007 and 2008. Sean Gallagher paid himself a remuneration of 420k in this time, despite having €830,000 of outstanding Irish State Agency grants (tax payer’s money) hanging over his head. If he couldn’t rein in his personal expenses when his company was on it’s knees, how can he be trusted with a 7 year term and nobody to answer to except himself. It’s like the guy wakes up everyday and pretends like his past never happened, deluded to say the least.
@Tom Cullen: but he’s wears a suit. He must be some important big businessman.
So – have we any advance on that, anyone at all willing to stay in a B&B ?
The race to the bottom
@eastsmer: Elect me as president. I’m the only candidate willing to sleep on the streets and swim to foreign countries.
@eastsmer: Mrs Higgins did when she visited Dundalk.
@eastsmer: He did mention that he would stay in a tent but how would he show up in a crumpled suit, unshowered and the smell of a breakfast roll after his state car pulls in at the local garage on the way, no, the next contender must be willing to sleep on a park bench or in a doorway,but better hurry, the doorways are in high demand.
@Sean Murphy: Thanks for the laugh, I got looks on the bus, crying laughing at that.
Anyone voting for this Fianna Fáil bagman needs to have a good hard look at themselves. Michael D is an honourable man and does this country proud EVERY time
@Michael Wynne: you must be joking. Higgins is nothing but a pig sucking at the taxpayers test while lying out of the side of his mouth. A common trait among Labour TDs.
@Jay Coleman: lying? When?
He has that Fianna Fail neck.
@Jay Coleman: I’d love to know what you think Michael D has done thats so bad. My guess, you think he had the power to have done something that he actually had no power to do. Or maybe theres some massive Michael D scandal no-onebut you has heard of.
@Jay Coleman: are you not going to share with us in what way President Higgins has lied to us?
@EillieEs: said he would not seek a second term
I suppose its cheaper to stay in Irish embassies than hotels,must remember that the next time i go on holidays.
@Peter Coen: Exactly – does he know the costs associated with a dignitary staying in an embassy? Does he think embassies are airBnBs?
He must do. Most Irish people tend to wait for an invitation before announcing that someone is going to put them up.
You’d swear little Mickey D is there on travago booking his trips and rooms etc. This is all done by some public servant and details sent on to his office. Itinerary done up and in all fairness he’s probably the last to know the details. Given his substantial payout etc let’s see him take on the role with average industrial wage and minimum pension afterwards then there might be a story.
Even if I’d never heard of or seen this man before, one look at him is enough for me to deem him untrustworthy. Some people just have a look about them. He looks like a shyster. I mean, who is voting for these types of people time and again?
@Eon Cocker: Ah, the good old Journal. Just post your “comment “ and no matter how thick you sound they’ll print it for all to see. Pity they don’t give prizes for it. You’d probably make your living at it!
And sleep on mattresses stuffed with brown envelopes.
@Martin Meyler: just clarify the corruption allegations instead of cheap shots
@Conor Thorne: bagman for Bertie? Self admitted FF fixer. Also, being associated in ANY way, as he was, with FF, he can’t be anything other than corrupt.
Woow not all heroes wear capes
“Its important to lead by example…..to ensure the use of Public funds is minimised”..So why didnt he hand back the ” substantial settlement” he got from Rte – after all WHO pays for our State broadcaster????????? Utter hypocrisy from this guy ….again..
@Margate: waiting impatiently for the answer how much compensation did the bagman get?
Where will security and his Aide De Camp stay?
What happens when he visits a country we don’t have an embassy in?
@Baron Adams TD: Aldi selling off summer stock. Tents , sleeping bags ,mini bar b q and pool floats
Throw in a Bear Grylls DVD
This chap will save the taxpayer a fortune
@Baron Adams TD: Xont worry about him he just proved that he is an idiot with a new set of teeth.
Did we not have a minister who stayed in the Waldorf Astoria instead of staying in the then Irish-owned Fitzpatrick Hotel in New York.
Some people really are generous with other peoples money.
@George Vladisavljevic: why should he stay there? Are we to only ever use Irish products anywhere in the world?
Just get the feeling that this guy would see it as an incredible personal achievement rather than an opportunity to serve his fellow country men/women. Plus he has a head like the big paper mache yokes you see in the dublin paddy’s day parade. Can’t be votin for that.
He is acting like a BIG CHILD.
You don’t have to keep promises you make looking for votes, P.rabbit TD lp
This fella is part of Bertie’s gang. This is enough of a reason not to vote for him.
Read between the lines of his Wikipedia page,
@Niall Power:Jaysus, a fair amount of fails, to be honest
Michael D should carry his own fold up cot with him next term save a fortune
@maurice healy: Stick the cot in a corner Mickie D will fit into it . Jobs a good one.
He wants to stay in embassies..Ferraro rocher will be delighted
@Kieran OKeeffe: he want satay in embassies. But only in the East I presume.
Go away Sean. You’re deluded. I suppose you have to admire his confidence in himself.
Pathetic cheap shot at the office of the President.
Why are these guys demeaning the office by not wanting to spend money to stay in hotels, or giving away the salary?
It cheapens politics into a plaything for the rich. Being a politician is a job, it has a pay packet. It’s not a vocation.
Sean Gallagher as Ireland’s yellow pack President
you could save a bit more by going Airbnb
and maybe a big mac for breakfast at McDonalds
For transport you could avail of the Cycle to Work Scheme
the added value here you will save on gym membership
Who cares … was our president supposed to stay in a Premier in . Just trying to make something out of nothing
@Aidan Murray: how can it ever be justified to pay €3000 for a night anywhere? Nobody is saying he has to stay in a dump but surely there has to be a limit to the cost of where he stays.
@Seamus Ryan: So you would be happy if the president of our country was reported staying in a hotel , in a double room, while Conor McGregor
Or his Ilk booked the “Presidential” suite, in the same hotel. This man is serving an elected role representing our country on the world stage. There are norms befitting this. I don’t think that this is wrong.
@Seamus Ryan: How many people did the bill cover, though? There’s not much point in promising not to sleep in hotels if that means that you are personally looked after and your staff can scramble for the nearest B&B, all the same.
@Aidan Murray: if it’s a State visit, the other side pays for President + an agreed number of delegation.
@Seamus Ryan: Horse manure, ill informed, non- contextual point, sorry….
Will he still gather infinity stones as he goes?
He can sleep under the rock he has been hiding under for the last few years
Go away Sean, just go away.
And will he be having breakfast in mcdonalds ;^)
@Sean Conway:
Better quality food in the travel lodge
Shows how much he knows!!! Don’t think many embassies have guest rooms
@Mary McCaffrey: Absolutely. A typical Irish embassy is some rented office space on the nth floor of a commercial building. A couple of offices, 2-3 diplomatic staff including the ambassador, and a few local staff. Toilets shared with other businesses on the same floor. And of course closed at night.
Who cares? Why is he trying to negotiate with us? I couldn’t car if he stayed in a hot air ballon.
@Big Red:
He could fill it by just talking to it!
I don’t get it, the president of our country stays in an expensive hotel, okay it was a bit excessive but where do we expect him to stay, in a Travel Lodge?
@FartyTowels:
He’d get a great breakfast in the travel lodge
Big irish fry up
Go away SG, just go away.
So he wont be staying in Irish Embassies so
Maybe he will bring the Ferrero Rocher,
For the ambassador
ahhhhhh!
more fake tan tv wannabes spouting inane dribble in the deluded hope of seeming like a concerned everyday Joe soap and achieving the status of joe dope
Look at him there, isn’t he great all the same.
No need for an Irish President the country is so small its just another burden on taxpayers
ridiculous
I’d rather vote for Trump than this clown Gallagher!
@Dotty Dunleary: well now I wouldn’t go quite that far.
Another after big monies
Still a FF bagman
Just bring a caravan
Have we Embassies in the North and South Poles that he would be allowed to go to and “Chill Out” before the Big Campaign.
Whst a clown. Maybe he should invest in a tent and a backpack. He is full of what makes the grass grow green in Texas. Vote M .D . Higgins.Slainte
Wonder who he is going to sue this time for damages when he looses. Hopefully the journal.ie
Just leave Micky at it we don’t want that narcissist representing/misrepresenting us
Still a c#@t
What a gobxhite!
Michael D
Loves the luxury needs comfort as he gets older
Fair play to Sean
@Pat Mooney: well I’d hardly expect the President to be couch surfing when representing us abroad.
@EillieEs:
His one regret was
That he never got to do santa
But he promises,
That lf he’s reelected, that HE will do santa in
THE SQUARE IN TALLAGHT SHOPPING CENTRE
ONLY IF HE CAN GET SOMEONE TO
HOLD HIM DOWN
Like
I
Am
Raging
Give him a chance, to be fair he deserves one
@Mr Mystery: why does he deserve more of a chance then any other candidate? What has he been doing over the past number of years that shows he has any interest in serving the public?
Irish people are such hypocrites. We spend most of our time complaining about how public money is wasted yet when someone comes up with a cost saving idea (which also sets a precedence), we belittle that idea. Having the president and his entourage stay in the ambassabor’s residence (where possible) would save money. And more importantly it shows everyone in the civil service/public sector that they are dealing with public money, and if the person at the top takes that seriously then they should also.
F off baldy
He can then pocket the 3 grand, stuff it in a brown envelope for his fellow crooked snakes fianna fail.
in the words of butch cassidy(who are those guys). what an idiotic bunch of morons, and we have to go and vote for them, no thanks. gallaghers case against rte cost the license payers in this country.i only hope its the lowest turnout of any election that ever was, and that the present president stays in the aras
Big deal
have your say