Boris Johnson has suggested that countries that “haven’t had the benefit of British rule” are now “less fortunate” while discussing wartime leader Winston Churchill’s attitude to the former empire.

He also used the opportunity to take a swipe at his fellow politicians, declaring they had more in common with “one-eyed pterodactyls or three-toed sloths” than the former conservative leader.

The ever-controversial London mayor is unlikely to have made many new friends in Westminster following his discussion around the legacy of Churchill at the Blenheim Palace Literary Festival.

Mr Johnson explained how he felt that the famous wartime leader, about whom he has just written a heavily publicised book, which has received mixed reviews, would have been “very proud” at the “continuing legacy of Britain” in former colonies around the world.

Boris Johnson's defining moments Show all 32 1 /32 Boris Johnson's defining moments Boris Johnson's defining moments 2016 Boris Johnson swings from a bus as Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers (left), Northern First Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster and Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment Jonathan Bell (second right) look on during a visit to Wrightbus Chassis plant in Antrim PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2015 Boris Johnson takes down 10-year-old Toki Sekiguchi during a game of Street Rugby with a group of Tokyo children Reuters Boris Johnson's defining moments 2015 Boris Johnson planting flowers at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2015 A commuter gesturing to Boris Johnson as he cycles across Vauxhall Bridge PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2014 Mayor of London Boris Johnson boxes with a trainer during his visit to Fight for Peace Academy in North Woolwich Boris Johnson's defining moments 2014 The Mayor of London Boris Johnson wears a traditional headdress during a visit to the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir, a major new Hindu temple being built in Kingsbury in London Boris Johnson's defining moments 2014 Many Conservative Party members gagging to have Boris Johnson as their MP PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2014 Boris Johnson prepares to deliver a speech in Bloomberg's European headquarters on Britain's involvement in the EU. Mr Johnson also announced his intention to become an MP again at the 2015 general election, whilst serving out the remainder of his term as mayor. Getty Images Boris Johnson's defining moments 2014 The Mayor of London Boris Johnson during a speech and Q&A session at Bloomberg, London, where he has said that 'in all probability' he will seek to stand for Parliament in next year's general election. PA Wire Boris Johnson's defining moments 2014 London mayor Boris Johnson helps shear a sheep held by New Zealand's most successful competition sheep shearer, David Fagan (L) on a visit to Lister Shearing Equipment in Stonehouse Boris Johnson's defining moments 2013 Mayor of London Boris Johnson takes a helicopter ride over Hong Kong as part of week long visit to China to promote trade between the far east and London PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2013 Boris Johnson explains why he's such a hit with female voters PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2013 Boris Johnson celebrates after a wildly successful interview with Eddie Mair PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2013 Mayor of London Boris Johnson sits in the operator's cab of a crane on the quay at DP World London Gateway Port in Stanford-le-Hope Boris Johnson's defining moments 2013 Boris Johnson shoots a basketball Getty Images Boris Johnson's defining moments 2013 The Mayor of London make a strong pose in what appears to be a particularly bad tourism advert for Asia PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2013 Boris Johnson meets saltwater crocodile George, which was named after the royal baby EPA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2013 Perhaps the only person ever who has ridden on the Emirates Air Line Getty Images Boris Johnson's defining moments 2012 Boris Johnson's encounter with a zip wire only served to prove how adept the London Mayor is at defying political gravity in 2012 Getty Images Boris Johnson's defining moments 2012 Boris Johnson playing tennis Getty Images Boris Johnson's defining moments 2012 Aside from his mayoral duties, London Mayor, Boris Johnson, is looking displeased at his seven appearances Rex Features Boris Johnson's defining moments 2012 Boris goes for a bounce in one of favourite places... (the Olympic village obviousy) Reuters Boris Johnson's defining moments 2011 London Mayor Boris Johnson on the streets of Clapham REUTERS Boris Johnson's defining moments 2011 Like a raging bull, Boris Johnson challenges a statue to a duel AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade Boris Johnson's defining moments 2010 Boris Johnson embraces a member of the public in Ealing, west London, who seems to have taken a shine to him FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2009 Frothy top? Boris Johnson visits Starbucks in Mayfair PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2009 Johnson tries on one of his favourite pink and sparkly hats Getty Images Boris Johnson's defining moments 2008 Johnson smiles smugly as he thinks of his fine mop of hair, worthy of a L'Oreal advert PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2008 Boris Johnson tries his hand at policing the capital - primarily by wearing a new hat PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 2008 The hippie world welcomes a new member to the fold in Boris Johnson Reuters Boris Johnson's defining moments 2004 Boris Johnson jogs on the streets of London PA Boris Johnson's defining moments 1980's Boris as a young'un. He was fired from his first job as a trainee reporter at The Times for making up a quote about the Plantagenet King Edward the II and his gay lover BBC

"He would have been very proud at the continuing legacy of Britain in those places around the world, and particularly I think he would have been amazed at India, the world's largest democracy, and a stark contrast with other less fortunate places that haven't had the benefit of British rule, if I can say this on the record.... why not? It's true, it's true.”

In the book Mr Johnson claims in his book that Churchill viewed the Raj as a “restraint on barbarous practises – suttee, bride-price”. However, as a review in the Spectator points out, Suttee (or sati) was banned in the Raj by early 1829 and there is some scholarship that suggests the imperial presence actually exacerbated the practise, rather than curtailing it.

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After setting out how he thought Churchill would have “been philosophical” about the collapse of the empire he turned to taking increasingly transparent shots at the coalition, rounding on the current immigration record.