Boris Johnson’s first hours of power: Candid behind the scenes photos chart new PM’s first day in No 10
- These photographs capture behind-the-scenes moments in Conservative campaign headquarters this week
- Andrew Parsons has worked with Boris Johnson for 11 years since being a Downing St photographer
- He was on hand ‘blending in’ in the background as the Tory leadership results came in, and with the PM’s team
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These behind-the-scenes photographs capture unseen moments from another tumultuous week in British politics, as newly-elevated Conservative party leader Boris Johnson prepared his first formal remarks as Prime Minister.
Captured over 26 hours between the announcement of the Tory leadership result to Boris’s return to Number 10 after meeting the Queen on Wednesday, they provide a glimpse into the furious work which went into crafting his speech and a moment of light-hearted relief after becoming Prime Minister.
Photographer Andrew Parsons has worked closely with Boris Johnson for the past 11 years, having been introduced to the new Prime Minister by his predecessor David Cameron, for whom Mr Parsons worked as a staff photographer.
It was Parsons who captured images of Johnson firing an AK-47 in Iraq, and of the moment he inadvertently flattened a Japanese schoolboy during a game of what was supposed to be touch rugby.
But this week he had his camera trained on a more businesslike Mr Johnson, at Conservative campaign headquarters and then in Downing Street, as he worked with aides to thrash out his first message to the public having achieved his lifelong ambition.
‘I’ve recorded quite a few high-pressure moments’, Mr Parsons told The Sunday Times, and added he hopes to continue working with the Prime Minister to immortalise more iconic occasions in future.
‘I think I’m quite good at blending in’, he said.
Beneath a huge portrait of Margaret Thatcher at Conservative campaign headquarters, Boris Johnson discusses his next move after winning the party leadership. Mr Johnson is pictured with Ed Lister, who is the chair of Homes England, the government’s housing accelerator, at the offices in Westminster
In this snap, Mr Johnson is seen practicing his speech to the nation in his temporary office inside Admiralty House, London, minutes before seeing the Queen before heading to Number 10 Downing Street as Britain’s new Prime Minister. He went over his speech with Will Walden, his former media aide while on the Vote Leave campaign trail in 2016. Mr Walden was also previously director of communications at City Hall under Mr Johnson
Two laptops, a desktop computer and his phone are splayed out in front of the PM as he thrashes out the text for his first speech as prime minister with several aides inside Admiralty House. The eye-opening pictures were taken by Andrew Parsons who has worked closely with the former Mayor of London over the past 11 years
Putting his feet up: My Johnson makes a call on speakerphone with a number of water bottles in front of him before meeting the Queen on Wednesday, having spent the day working on his speech
A glimpse of Boris’s longtime photographer Andrew Parsons can be seen in the mirror as Mr Johnson works with his City Hall deputy Munira Mirza, now head of the Number 10 policy unit, on the speech, along with Mr Walden and several other aides
His new stomping ground: Mr Johnson paces behind the green baize of the Cabinet table inside Number 10 Downing Street hours after becoming Prime Minister, beating out Jeremy Hunt in the Conservative party leadership contest
In this picture, Mr Johnson can be seen talking to his new special advisers in his temporary office in Admiralty House before heading off to see the Queen on Wednesday. ‘I’ve recorded quite a few high-pressure moments’, Mr Parsons told The Sunday Times, and added he hopes to continue working with the Prime Minister to immortalise more iconic occasions in future
Starting with a blank sheet of paper: Fountain pen in hand, coffee on hand, and tie off, Mr Johnson is seen working on the text of his address with his sleeves rolled up in Admiralty House. Mr Parsons was introduced to Mr Johnson by former Prime Minister David Cameron
The grand central staircase of Admiralty House flares over Mr Johnson’s shoulder as he prepares to leave to meet the Queen on Wednesday, having beat Jeremy Hunt for the position
A moment of embarrassment as Boris tells staff that during the audience Her Majesty told him ‘I don’t know why anyone would want the job’ – only for an aide to point out he isn’t supposed to reveal anything the Queen says in the meetings