More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Boris Johnson has set out his plans for the country in his maiden speech as Prime Minister after an audience with the Queen.
He said the country could prosper outside the EU and vowed to confound the "gloomsters."
In his speech outside Downing Street he peppered an optimistic address with a series of policy pledges including extra money for police and a plan to solve the care crisis.
In an up-beat mood, he struck a note of optimism about Brexit saying the country would thrive outside the EU.
He promised "fantastic new road and rail infrastructure", as well as "an economic package to boost British business."
And he tried to switch the focus to the government's domestic agenda, reeling off a series of commitments.
They included:
Mr Johnson said the country would confound the sceptics who doubted that the UK would prosper outside the EU. "Those critics are wrong. The doubters, the doomsters, the gloomsters, they are going to get it wrong again.
"The people who bet against Britain are going to loose their shirts. Britain would leave the EU in October, "no ifs, no buts."
"I will take personal responsibility for the change I want to see, Never mind the backstop, the buck stops here."
He was upbeat over the changes Brexit would bring.
“With high hearts and growing confidence we will now accelerate the work of getting ready. And the ports will be ready and the banks will be ready and the factories will be ready and business will be ready and the hospitals will be ready and our amazing food and farming sector will be ready and waiting to continue selling ever more, not just here but around the world."
Meanwhile, the transport secretary of state Chris Grayling, who oversaw the botched Brexit ferry contracts that cost the taxpayer £85m including a £33m settlement with Eurotunnel, was also reported to be on his way out of government.
5.04pm
Here is what the Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark had to say about leaving his role as business secretary:
3.25pm
Here's the Faversham and Mid Kent MP Helen Whately reflecting on the change in leadership and a new government:
And the ardent Brexiteer Craig Mackinlay MP seemed delighted:
3.15pm
Some minor disruption to Boris Johnson en route to see the Queen as a small group of environmental campaigners seek to block The Mall - dealt with relatively smoothly by his outriders but a bit of a security lapse?
2.35pm
2.23pm
The out-going Prime Minister is about to make her farewell speech outside 10 Downing Street. Expect a reprise of her legacy...
1.55pm
In the interests of balance around our picture gallery of politicians enjoying ice creams while campaigning in Kent, here's one from the archives - when Blair and Brown came to Gillingham.
1.45pm
Chancellor Philip Hammond has, as expected, resigned and there are rumours that Sajid Javid will be appointed as his successor
1.05pm
As expected, Theresa May gets a standing ovation as her final #pmqs ends but it felt a little awkward - opposition MPs prefacing questions by being nice to her. Bit of a flat atmosphere; neither her or Corbyn are renowned for oratory or eloquent speaking - be interesting to see what tone Boris Johnson will adopt but don't expect to find out next week - as Parliament is in recess and MPs are on holiday...
Maidstone MP Helen Grant Helen asks May if she agrees more needs to be done to help victims of domestic abuse.
May says she is proud of the domestic abuse bill that has been introduced and agrees on importance of raising awareness
12.25
What will Boris Johnson mean for Kent? He's made several pledges and policy commitments that could impact the county - read about them here and our analysis
12.14
Jeremy Corbyn reels off list of U-turns PM has made - including ditching plans for new grammar schools. May concludes exchanges by suggesting that Labour leader might also consider if it is time for him to return to backbenches. The usual stuff, then...
12.08
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says she hopes the out-going MP will have a "more relaxing time on the backbenches" before going on to list things that have "gone up" under Mrs May, eg food bank use, class sizes - a cue for a lot white noise with the two trading claim and counter claim about how badly/well things have gone under May's tenure
12.00
Theresa May's last #pmqs is underway - lots of cheers as she gets up, saying she will be continuing as a backbench MP.
Praises her successor, says she ishappy to hand over to Conservative leader who served in her Cabinet and is committed to delivering result of referendum.
11.45am
Still no word from business secretary and Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark, who is thought to be leaving his ministerial post. But Boris cheerleader Nigel Evans MP has told Sky News that he thinks there could be a job for Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch - adding to growing speculation that she is due to get some kind of job.
11.35am
Amid the deluge of congratulatory tweets and other social media posts from Conservative MPs around the county, there was an interesting comment from Mike Whiting, the county councillor who is chairman of Kent Conservatives, who said he hoped the strong mandate from party activists would be recognised by MPs:
"The scale of Boris's victory will I hope ensure the party, particularly the parliamentary party, gets behind him in the difficult decisions that lay ahead and that we can put Brexit done us and get on with the exciting agenda he referred to during his first speech this morning as party leader, with more investment in education, the police and broadband, and new trade deals across the world."
In other words, a warning shot across the bows of MPs who might be out to frustrate Brexit.
11.30am
Kent reacts to Boris Johnson as new PM
11.25am
Here is the timetable for the day - lots of coming and goings between Buckingham Palace and Downing Street, as you'd expect:
For no other reason than it is VERY hot, here's a gratuitous picture of Boris Johnson eating an ice cream while on the election campaign trail in Ramsgate in 2015.
