London, Tuesday
Boris Johnson will become Britain’s next prime minister after being elected leader of the Conservative party, defeating Jeremy Hunt in the party’s leadership contest.
The former mayor of London, who has long cherished an ambition to lead his country, won the contest by a convincing margin of 92,153 votes to 46,656, with 66 per cent of the vote. Turnout was 87.4 per cent among 159,320 party members.
In a characteristically flippant acceptance speech, Johnson conceded that even some of his own supporters may “wonder quite what they have done”.
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He said that at a pivotal moment in history, his party must show its “historic ability to balance competing instincts – marrying the desire to maintain a close relationship with the EU, with the desire for democratic self-government in this country”.
Johnson vowed on Tuesday to “deliver Brexit, unite the country and defeat Jeremy Corbyn”.
“We are going to get Brexit done on 31 October and take advantage of all the opportunities it will bring with a new spirit of can do,” he said.
The result was announced by joint chair of the backbench 1922 Committee, Cheryl Gillam. Her colleague, Charles Walker, first urged MPs to be “kinder” to the new leader than they had been to Theresa May.
Johnson’s victory was almost immediately welcomed by US President Donald Trump.
“Congratulations to Boris Johnson on becoming the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He will be great!” Trump tweeted.
Johnson will not take office formally until Wednesday afternoon. Theresa May will face her final prime minister’s questions in the House of Commons before tendering her resignation to the Queen.
Perilous moment
Johnson will then go to Buckingham Palace himself for his appointment to be confirmed – before being driven to Downing Street to give a speech in front of the black door of No 10.
He takes charge at a perilous political moment. Meanwhile, European Union chiefs said they want to work with Johnson to ratify the Brexit withdrawal deal signed by May. -Agencies
