THERESA May today gave Boris Johnson her backing – saying he would bring a "bright future" for Britain as Jeremy Corbyn challenged him to call a snap General Election.

The outgoing PM defended her successor despite their years-long rivalry at her final session of Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons.

But she clashed with Mr Corbyn in fierce scenes which showed there was no love lost between the pair as they faced off for the last time.

Opening PMQs for the last time, she told the Commons: "This afternoon I shall have an audience with Her Majesty the Queen.

"I will then continue with my duties in this house from the back benches, where I will continue to be the member of Parliament for Maidenhead."

Asked if she was upset to be handing over to Boris, Mrs May hit back: "I am pleased to hand over to an incoming leader of the Conservative party and Prime Minister who I worked with when he was in my Cabinet and who is committed to delivering on the vote of the British people in 2016 and to delivering for the people of this country."

She added: "I look forward in the back benches to giving my full support to the next Prime Minister as he takes us forward to delivering on Brexit and continuing to deliver on those Conservative priorities."

And she called on her success to make education funding his top priority after entering No10.

I look forward to giving my full support to the next Prime Minister

Jeremy Corbyn praised Mrs May's "sense of public duty" and called on her to join him as a backbench rebel, blocking BoJo's "reckless" Brexit plans alongside her Chancellor Philip Hammond.

But he also launched a string of vicious attacks on her record, claiming she had driven an increase in poverty and crime and blasted: "Does the Prime Minister have any regrets?"

He also called on the incoming PM to call a snap election as soon as possible to "let the people decide their future".

Mrs May responded by paying tribute to her rival for his work in his local area – but also called on him to resign after losing the backing of his own MPs.

She quipped: "Can I finish by saying this – as a party leader who has accepted when her time is up, perhaps the time is now for him to do the same."

It was an echo of David Cameron's final PMQs, where he blasted: "It might be in my party’s interest for him to sit there. It’s not in the national interest. I would say – for heaven’s sake, man, go!"

Mrs May also hit out at Mr Corbyn for blocking Brexit, saying: "At every stage, his only object has been playing party politics and frankly he should be ashamed of himself."

Her last Commons performance as PM was watched by husband Philip, who got a name check from Mrs May as she said she was "very pleased" he'd come along to support him.

ON THE OUTS

Mrs May will later visit Buckingham Palace to hand her resignation to the Queen, after making a short speech in Downing Street.

Mr Johnson will formally take over as Prime Minister shortly afterwards.

He is expected to make his own speech outside No10, then will enter talks with security officials to ensure he is up to speed on the threats facing the UK.

This evening the new PM is expected to announce the appointment of certain key Cabinet ministers.

The full team will be unveiled tomorrow with the line-up of the top table providing a clue to how Boris will govern the country.

Mrs May will speed away from London immediately and go to her Berkshire home with husband Philip.

She has vowed to continue as backbench MP for Maidenhead under her successor Mr Johnson.

BoJo's first day

Here's how Theresa May's last day in office – and Boris Johnson's first – is playing out (all timings approximate):

12pm May takes Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons for the final time

2pm She gives short farewell speech outside 10 Downing Street

2.30pm May travels to Buckingham Palace and hands resignation to the Queen

3.30pm Johnson goes to the Palace and "kisses hands" with Her Majesty, becoming the new Prime Minister

4pm Boris arrives at No10 and gives his own speech before going inside for security briefings

5pm Johnson summons ministers who won't get a new job to his office and tells them they're sacked

7pm The new PM starts appointing his Cabinet with at least six top jobs to be filled today

Tomorrow the House of Commons starts its summer recess and will not sit again for five weeks.

That means the new PM won't have to face a grilling from MPs until Wednesday, September 4.

But Boris is weighing up whether to make a Commons statement tomorrow morning in a bid to stave off a rebellion from furious backbenchers.

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