Boris Johnson’s Parting Advice to Next PM: ‘Stay Close to The Americans; Stick Up For The Ukrainians’

(CNSNews.com) – Signing off after his final question time in the House of Commons, outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had some memorable words of advice for his successor: “Stay close to the Americans,” “stick up for the Ukrainians,” and “it’s not Twitter that counts; it’s the people who sent us here.”

During a longer than usual Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQ) – the often-rowdy weekly ritual in which the premier is grilled by lawmakers on whatever subjects they wish to raise – Johnson exchanged barbs with opposition members on everything from his COVID-19 response to demands for Scottish independence.

In the process, he compared Labor Party leader Keir Starmer to “one of those pointless plastic bollards you find around deserted roadworks on a motorway” and predicted that either of the candidates running to succeed him as prime minister would “wipe the floor” with Starmer, “like some household detergent.”

He also told the Scottish National Party’s Ian Blackford that he was “talking a load of tosh” and suggested he take time to “reflect on his long-running campaign to break up the greatest country in the world” – a reference to the SNP campaign to declare independence from post-Brexit Britain.

As the session drew to a close, Johnson offered parting words to whoever succeeds him at 10 Downing Street.

“Stay close to the Americans. Stick up for the Ukrainians. Stick up for freedom and democracy everywhere,” he said. “Cut taxes and deregulate wherever you can, to make this the greatest place to live and invest – which it is.”

“Focus on the road ahead,” Johnson said, “but always remember to check the rear-view mirror. And remember, remember above all: It is not Twitter that counts; it is the people that sent us here.”

Johnson offered a quick appraisal of his achievements, as he saw them – securing the biggest Conservative majority in the House of Commons in 2019 since Margaret Thatcher’s victory in 1987, and restoring “our national independence” with Britain’s departure from the European Union in 2020.

“We have helped – I have helped – to get this country through a pandemic and helped save another country from barbarism,” he said, apparently referring to Britain’s support for Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion.

“And frankly, that is enough to be going on with. Mission largely accomplished – for now.”

After thanking the speaker, parliamentary staff, friends and colleagues, Johnson bowed out with a line made famous by Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character in the movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day: “Hasta la vista, baby.”

He left the chamber, to a combination of cheers and jeers.

In office for less than three years, Johnson resigned after several scandals and a wave of resignations, including by senior members of his cabinet.

He is currently serving in a caretaker capacity, as his Conservative Party chooses a successor.

The first of a two-stage process to replace him – a series of votes by Conservative MPs – left two candidates standing on Wednesday. They are Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and former Treasury head Rishi Sunak.

In a mail-in ballot over the coming weeks, registered party members will choose between Truss and Sunak, with the final result to be announced on September 5.

As for Johnson, he will return to the backbenches of the House of Commons, where he has represented a constituency in north-west London since 2015. Commentators predict he will be kept busy, and earn well, by writing books and lucrative newspaper columns, and delivering speeches.

As for the possibility of a comeback – he’s only 58 – Johnson’s detractors may have been troubled by two words in his final PMQ comments: “Mission largely accomplished – for now.”

They may also have been mollified, however, by the fact he didn’t choose as his exit line that other famous Schwarzenegger / Terminator quote: “I’ll be back.”

Boris Johnson’s closing remarks at Wednesday PMQ:

I thank my right honorable friend, and I want to use the last few seconds to give some words of advice to my successor, whoever he or she may be.

Number one: Stay close to the Americans. Stick up for the Ukrainians. Stick up for freedom and democracy everywhere. Cut taxes and deregulate wherever you can, to make this the greatest place to live and invest – which it is.

I love the Treasury, but remember that if we had always listened to the Treasury, we would not have built the M25 [London’s equivalent of the Capital Beltway] or the Channel Tunnel.

Focus on the road ahead, but always remember to check the rear-view mirror. And remember, remember above all: It is not Twitter that counts; it is the people that sent us here.

And yes, the last few years have been the greatest privilege of my life. And it is true that I helped to get the biggest Tory majority for 40 years and a huge realignment in U.K. politics, Mr. Speaker. We’ve transformed our democracy and restored our national independence, as my right honorable friend says.

We have helped – I have helped – to get this country through a pandemic and helped save another country from barbarism. And frankly, that is enough to be going on with. Mission largely accomplished – for now.

I want to thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank all the wonderful staff of the House of Commons. I want to thank all my friends and colleagues. I want to thank my right honorable friend opposite, Mr. Speaker,  I want to thank everybody here.

And – hasta la vista, baby.

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