Boris Johnson defends his leadership at his final cabinet meeting

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Chancellor of the Exchequer Nadhim Zahawi and Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey during a Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Boris Johnson used his final cabinet meeting to defend his record in office as Tory leadership contenders sought to break from the policies he championed.

The British prime minister said his decision to commit to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 to tackle climate change was right, even though it had become “unfashionable” — the target has been criticised by some of his potential successors because of the economic risk.