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How Boris Johnson will hand over the keys of Downing Street to Liz Truss

The pair are flying on separate government jets to Scotland for the handover

Jon Stone
Policy Correspondent
Tuesday 06 September 2022 15:05 BST
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UK's Boris Johnson hands over to new PM Liz Truss

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On Monday, Liz Truss was elected Tory leader – and on Tuesday she'll become prime minister.

The arrangements for the day are somewhat more complicated than usual, and will involve Ms Truss and Boris Johnson flying to Scotland in separate private jets.

Mr Johnson will kick off the day in London, giving a statement outside No.10 early in the morning, at approximately 7.30am.

The reason for this early start is two-fold.

Firstly, the prime minister has to travel to Balmoral in the Scottish Highlands, where the Queen currently is. The 96-year-old monarch, whose health is fragile, will not be travelling down to London.

The second reason is that the weather is expected to turn bad in both places later in the day and No.10 wants to dodge the rain.

Following Mr Johnson's statement to the nation, he will will then fly to Scotland by government jet for an audience with the Queen at her home in Scotland.

Liz Truss will also fly up – but on a separate jet. This is supposedly for security reasons on which the governmetmn has not elaborated, though it will also avoid a rather awkward flight for the pair.

She will have her audience with the Queen around 12pm. She will leave as prime minister. Usually this would take place at Buckingham Palace.

Ms Truss will arrive back in London for about 4pm and go into Downing Street. There, she'll give a statement on the doorstep of No.10, assuming the weather is good enough.

The government is thought to have alternative arrangements in mind if it is heavily raining and she cannot give a statement outside.

We don't know where Boris Johnson will be after he leaves Balmoral – but it won't be Downing Street. Monday night will be he last night, and he is supposedly not planning a farewell party or leaving do of the sort that got him into so much trouble over lockdown.

Ms Truss is expected to appoint the bulk of her Cabinet after arriving back at No 10 at 4pm. A handover between the two politicians' political staffers will take place while they are in Scotland.

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