PM chairs final Cabinet and vows to 'keep Britain moving' in heatwave

Boris chairs final Cabinet meeting and vows to ‘keep Britain moving’ during heatwave in nod to ‘Freedom Day’ a year ago today when PM lifted Covid rules

• Boris Johnson chairs final Cabinet meeting and vows to ‘keep country moving’ 
• PM points to ‘Freedom Day’ a year ago as UK battles through current heatwave
• Liz Truss – who is vying to replace Mr Johnson as Tory leader – sits opposite PM 

Boris Johnson today chaired his final Cabinet meeting as he vowed to ‘keep our country moving’ during the scorching heatwave.

As he continued his political swansong, the outgoing Prime Minister gathered together his top ministers for the last scheduled time in Downing Street.

The meeting coincided with the one-year anniversary of the country’s ‘Freedom Day’ from Covid rules – when almost all legal restrictions were lifted.

Mr Johnson pointed to that moment last year as Britain battles through this week’s sweltering heat.

The record temperatures in some parts of the UK have caused travel chaos, prompted schools to close and led to millions of people working from home in a bid to beat the disruption.

The PM told his Cabinet today: ‘On another scorching, sweltering day I think it’s very, very important that we think back to that moment that we opened up and try and balance risk with the need to keep our country, our society and our economy moving.

‘I hope, Cabinet, that you are all agreed that as far as possible we should keep schools open and keep our transport system going as far as we possibly can.’

Mr Johnson added the ‘fantastic NHS’ would keep ‘providing for the people of this country in the way that they need and expect’.

The outgoing Prime Minister gathered together his top ministers for the last scheduled time in Downing Street

Boris Johnson’s final Cabinet meeting coincided with the one-year anniversary of the country’s ‘Freedom Day’ from Covid rules

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, the one remaining Cabinet minister left in the race to succeed Mr Johnson, sat opposite the PM today

The PM’s opening address to his final Cabinet meeting was greeted with the traditional bangining of the table by ministers.

His new-look top team was hastily assembled following the mass resignations from his Government that prompted his downfall.

Those sat round the Cabinet table today included some of those who had told Mr Johnson to quit as he faced the Tory revolt against his leadership.

They now form part of the PM’s caretaker administration while a new Conservative leader is chosen to replace him, with Mr Johnson due to formally hand over power on 6th September.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, the one remaining Cabinet minister left in the race to succeed Mr Johnson, sat opposite the PM today.

On 19th July last year, England moved to ‘Step Four’ of Mr Johnson’s roadmap for easing Covid restrictions.

Reflecting on that moment today, the PM said: ‘That was ahead of other comparable countries. Why were we able to do it? It was because we had the fastest vaccine roll out of any major economy.

‘I’m proud of what we did. Of course I remember at the time some said opening up in that way, opening up retail, opening up hospitality, opening up our country that we did – they said it was reckless, they said it was going to be a threat to the world, I remember somebody saying.

‘I’ve got to be honest, it wasn’t an easy decision. We should never forget the suffering caused by that pandemic and we grieve for the families of the many thousands of people whose lives were cut short.

‘But I have to say I do think it was the right decision and because we were able to go ahead in that way and to open up, we were able to achieve the fastest economic growth last year of the G7.’

There are four candidates left in the Tory leadership race – after Tom Tugendhat joined Suella Braverman, Nadhim Zahawi and Jeremy Hunt in dropping out the contest

The PM also used the Cabinet meeting to defend his Government’s commitment to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 – a pledge that has been a major debating point in the contest to replace him as Tory leader.

All four remaining candidates have expressed concern about the net zero goal, although only Kemi Badenoch has suggested the 2050 date might be allowed to slip. 

‘Who can doubt that we were right to be the first major economy to go for net zero?,’ the PM said.

‘It may be sometimes unfashionable to say this but it is the right thing to do.

‘If we’re going to protect our planet and if we’re going to do the right thing to tackle global warming, it’s essential that we set that lead.’

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