BORIS Johnson plans to formally resign as Prime Minister to the Queen after the Tory leadership contest has ended, Number 10 has said.

The Mirror reports that Johnson intends to officially stand down on September 6 - the day after his successor will be appointed.

It comes after a tense Prime Minister’s Questions where Johnson indicated that the leadership contest might not go the distance and he could be out of Number 10 quicker, with the next Tory leader potentially appointed by “acclamation”.

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But, according to his press secretary, Johnson intends to hang in until the last possible moment.

Number 10 also refused to say if the Johnson’s will be taking any of the £112,000 furnishings they decorated the Downing Street flat with, after they had originally tried to get a Tory donor to foot the bill.

Johnson’s press secretary said: “That’s not a question I’ve asked.”

It comes after, during what might be his final PMQ's, Johnson suggested his successor could be chosen “by acclamation” rather than requiring the planned vote.

There are currently eight MPs in the running, with the list due to be shortened even further after the first round of voting on Wednesday afternoon. 

Johnson told MPs he would be leaving office “with my head held high”.

The National: Johnson faced MPs for the first time since his resignationJohnson faced MPs for the first time since his resignation

Subsequent rounds of voting by MPs will whittle the field of contenders down to a final two, with the membership of the Tory party then deciding on the eventual winner who is due to be named on September 5.

Johnson is expected to face one final session of PMQs next week, but he raised the prospect that a new leader could be in place before then.

“The next leader of my party may be elected by acclamation so it’s possible this will be our last confrontation… it’s possible,” he told Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

Johnson defended his record on Brexit, infrastructure projects and supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia.

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He said: “It’s perfectly true that I leave not at a time of my choosing, absolutely true.

“But I am proud of the fantastic teamwork that has been involved in all of those projects both nationally and internationally, and I am also proud of the leadership that I have given.

“I will be leaving soon with my head held high.”

The 2016 leadership battle to replace David Cameron ended early without going to a ballot of members.

Theresa May took the keys to No 10 after Dame Andrea Leadsom, her last remaining leadership rival, abandoned her campaign.

On Wednesday, Tom Tugendhat warned his leadership rivals not to do the same in this year’s contest to replace Johnson.

The National: Johnson has been urged to leave Number 10 but has remained in post as a 'caretaker' PM Johnson has been urged to leave Number 10 but has remained in post as a 'caretaker' PM

He said: “Whatever happens, whoever ends up being my rival in the last two, let me be absolutely clear: this is no time for any form of deal-doing or anything like that. This has got to go to a membership vote.

“It absolutely must go all the way because otherwise democracy in the party will be undermined.”

The Prime Minister’s press secretary said Johnson doesn’t have any plans to skip PMQs next week, adding: “As things stand, he will still be doing PMQs in his last week.”

A Labour spokesman said: “I’m sure that the Prime Minister would want to take advantage of this opportunity to say a proper farewell to the House next week.”