Members of the public have today (Thursday 7th July) been spotted posing for photos with a figure positioned outside Blackpool’s JobCentre Plus.  The figure was the Madama Tussauds’ waxwork version of Boris Johnson, which was eerily standing on the pavement, grinning at passers-by. The instantly recognisable figure had his hands on his hips, was dressed in a suit with a marching powder-blue tie and was topped by his signature messy hair.

The stunt came shortly after Mr Johnson delivered his resignation speech today without actually saying he was resigning. The PM said it is ‘clearly now the will’ of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader, and he would stay in the top job until they are chosen.

He was widely criticised for refusing to apologise for various scandals including breaking his own Covid laws and giving a man a senior government position despite knowing there were concerns about his ‘inappropriate behaviour’.

Meanwhile, the controversy that follows the PM continued as Downing Street has not denied that the Prime Minister and his wife Carrie Johnson have planned a lavish wedding party at Chequers later this month.

Asked about the reports, which first appeared in the Daily Mirror and Bloomberg, a No10 spokesperson said: ‘The Prime Minister has a strong sense of duty and will continue to serve his country until a new leader is in place, solely to continue his obligation to the public.’

Chequers, in Buckinghamshire, is the country residence of the serving Prime Minister.

Opposition MPs have been quick to condemn the idea of Johnson and his wife holding an extravagant wedding party there.

Labour MP Angela Eagle described the plan as ‘grubby’ and Lib Dem MP Munira Wilson said ‘it’s always been about the parties with him’.