Boris Johnson appears to have accepted that “leave means leave” as removal vehicles were spotted outside the grace and favour home he lived in as foreign secretary.
Three weeks after quitting the Cabinet in a row over Theresa May’s Brexit plans, his belongings were being removed from One Carlton Gardens in central London.
One lorry and a minivan were parked behind the black gates of the property on Monday.
Removal men outside the Foreign Secretary’s official residence at Carlton Gardens (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Both were from the Restore Harrow Green firm, which states on its website its specialities include business removals and international relocations.
A series of white boxes were loaded into the lorry – along with what appeared to be a case of Jacques Depagneux wine, a large painting, a luxury armchair and a home gym kit with a light set of dumbbells.
Mr Johnson’s departure comes days after anti-Brexit campaigners staged a stunt by offering to help him move.
A removal man carrying what appears to be a case of wine from the Carlton Gardens residence (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Last week, a handful of protesters parked a van featuring the slogan Leave Means Leave Removals Ltd outside the residence.
Campaigners from For our Future’s Sake and Our Future Our Choice dressed up in overalls and brought cardboard boxes to the gates of the property.
Campaigners parked a van with the slogan "Leave Means Leave Removals Ltd" outside the Foreign Secretary’s official residence calling on Boris Johnson to move out following his resignation almost three weeks ago. pic.twitter.com/VFIG32c0fD
— Catherine Wylie (@wyliecatherine) July 26, 2018
Mr Johnson plunged the Government into crisis after he announced he was quitting on July 9, with a scathing denunciation of the Prime Minister’s Chequers Brexit blueprint.
But despite quitting, Mr Johnson remained in the official home situated not far from Buckingham Palace and The Ritz hotel.
Impersonator Drew Galdron put in an appearance (Jonathan Brady/PA)
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “Former ministers are expected to leave official residences as quickly as practicable at the end of their tenure, taking into account their personal circumstances and family requirements; we can confirm there is no additional cost to taxpayers involved.”
He was not the first foreign secretary to stay in the residence for a period after his tenure.
When Robin Cook was ousted from the Foreign Office and demoted to Commons leader in 2001, he was allowed to hang on to a “granny flat” above the new occupant in Carlton Gardens for two years.
Impersonator Drew Galdron, who calls himself the Faux BoJo, arrived at the scene to celebrate.
“It’s about time he left, said the 35-year-old, of Tooting, south-west London.
The MP was not seen during the move, but his wife, Marina Wheeler, was.
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