Boris Johnson has delivered his valedictory speech to the nation, describing himself as a “booster rocket that has fulfilled its function”.

Speaking outside a packed Downing Street, the outgoing prime minister said: “This is it folks.”

He said: “On the subject of bouncing around in future careers, let me say that I am now like one of those booster rockets that has fulfilled its function.

“And I will now be gently re-entering the atmosphere and splashing down invisibly in some remote and obscure corner of the Pacific.”

He went onto compare himself to Cincinnatus – a Roman statesman, who, according to the encyclopaedia Britannica “gained fame for his selfless devotion to the republic in times of crisis” before resigning and returning to his farm.

“Like Cincinnatus, I am returning to my plough and I will be offering this government nothing but the most fervent support,” Mr Johnson said.

After nearly three years as prime minister, Mr Johnson is now heading for the backbenches, where some have speculated he will be defiant, stir up trouble and plot a Trump-style comeback.

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But in his farewell speech, Mr Johnson vowed to “get behind Liz Truss every step of the way” and told the Conservative Party that “it is time to get behind” the new prime minister.

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Mr Johnson said he would offer the new government “nothing but his most fervent support”.

He championed his administration’s achievements, highlighting Brexit, the vaccine rollout and the response to the war in Ukraine.

He blamed President Putin for spiralling energy costs and said he knows Ms Truss and her government “will do everything they can to get through this crisis”.

Mr Johnson will now set off for Balmoral to formally tender his resignation to the Queen before Liz Truss’s arrival.

Ms Truss was declared the winner of the Conservative leadership race on Monday and will step into the role as party leader and prime minister after she has been formally invited by the Queen to form a government.

On Monday she praised “my friend” Mr Johnson as she accepted her victory.

“Boris, you got Brexit done, you crushed Jeremy Corbyn, you rolled out the vaccine and you stood up to Vladimir Putin. You were admired from Kyiv to Carlisle,” she said.

On Tuesday afternoon Ms Truss will return to Westminster, where she will address the country for the first time as prime minister before getting on with the business of appointing her ministerial team.

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