It is incredible, it is infuriating, it is disgraceful that it should now be three whole years since the EU referendum result; and I can tell that the whole country is positively aching for us to get it done. You can feel the impatience building like a giant thunderstorm on a hot June day.

I know that if we fail again, we face a democratic explosion and a deluge in which both major parties may be swept away. And so, my friends, it is absolutely vital that we keep our eyes on the prize. It has been a long and parching march, but the oasis is finally in sight. We are so nearly there.

We are just over four months away from the date on which, by law, we must leave the EU; and this time we are not going to bottle it. We are not going to fail. This time we are not going to shrink in fear from the exit, as we have on the last two occasions. We are going to show all the mettle, the creativity and the energy of this amazing nation. We are going to focus all our efforts on honouring that single great promise – and we are going to come out of the EU on October 31.