Boris Johnson’s leaving speech was even worse than you imagined – 27 favourite responses
It’s not as if he hasn’t had enough time to prepare one, but Boris Johnson’s ‘resignation’ speech when it came was even worse than you might have imagined.
The most memorable phrase from this ‘great orator’ came as he reflected on his ousting from Downing Street following the resignation of 59 of his party’s own MPs: ‘Them’s the breaks.’
One for the history books, alright.
Boris Johnson has resigned as leader of the Conservative Party but will continue to serve as Prime Minister until his successor is named.
Watch his speech in full ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/NN5wBo8HiS
— LBC News (@LBCNews) July 7, 2022
But as many people pointed out, there was an important word missing.
Did he actually say he resigned though? Might be worth checking that.
— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) July 7, 2022
Here’s the estimable Labour MP Chris Bryant, who took Johnson to task so magnificently at that Commons committee on Wednesday.
He hasn’t resigned as PM or as Tory leader. He says he will. That’s all.
— Chris Bryant (@RhonddaBryant) July 7, 2022
So while we wait to find out when exactly Johnson will be shoehorned out of Downing Street, we’ve read all the reaction – well, quite a lot of it – so you don’t have to and here are our favourite 27 responses.
1.
Not one single syllable of apology, contrition or recognition of the damage he has done…
Not one.
— Marina Purkiss (@MarinaPurkiss) July 7, 2022
2.
Summary of Johnson’s speech:
“It wasn’t me”
— The Neglectful Gardener: @RebootGB #NFNFNE 🐟🇺🇦 (@SimonPease1) July 7, 2022
3.
“I am proud of our achievements, from the active promotion of sex pests, to getting absolutely shitfaced while some old people coughed themselves to death alone”
— Nish Kumar (@MrNishKumar) July 7, 2022
4.
A Churchillian speech. Must renew my car insurance.
— Richard Osman (@richardosman) July 7, 2022
5.
The speech of a very strange mind, convinced that the world is as he wants it to be. Disgraceful, really.
— John Harris (@johnharris1969) July 7, 2022
6.
And he’s out. Some people are booing but, in the interests of balance, there are also a lot of people shouting “arsehole.”
— Tom Peck (@tompeck) July 7, 2022
7.
Basically a spoken word version of My Way
— Frankie Boyle (@frankieboyle) July 7, 2022
8.
He's treating it like an acceptance speech, rather than he's just been told to fuck off by the vast majority of his colleagues
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) July 7, 2022
9.
Boris Johnson doing a resignation pic.twitter.com/dNTViK8nIW
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) July 7, 2022
10.
“Them’s the breaks”#BorisJohnson pic.twitter.com/MNdyP2aDXX
— Danny Wallace (@dannywallace) July 7, 2022
11.
Him’s the wanker.
— Adam Kay (@amateuradam) July 7, 2022
12.
I’m sorry I was so successful and they didn’t listen to me
— ollie masters (@olliemasters) July 7, 2022
