In this fallen world, I suspect we will never achieve perfection. But that won't stop me trying.

In particular, I wanted to help build a team behind Boris Johnson so that a politician who argued for leaving the European Union could lead us to a better future.

I want there to be an open and positive debate about the path the country will now take. Whatever the verdict of that debate I will respect it.

As long as there are people in education making excuses for failure, cursing future generations with a culture of low expectations, denying children access to the best that has been thought and written, because Nemo and the Mister Men are more relevant, the battle needs to be joined.

Whoever the next prime minister of this country will be, it will be a female prime minister and a female prime minister who has formidable skills and I know whichever one of the two wins they will lead this country well.

If I'm the British prime minister I won't be dictated to on the timetable or the manner of the negotiations.

The challenges facing Britain required not just a cool head, but a heart burning with the desire for change - not business as usual but a bold vision.