Boris new British PM
BORIS Johnson has declared that now “the work begins” after being announced as the new British Conservative leader and so Prime Minister.
“I say to all the doubters: dude, we are going to energise the country, we are going to get Brexit done,” Mr Johnson said.
BRITAIN will today swear in Boris Johnson as its new Prime Minister, charged with resolving the Brexit impasse and uniting a divided Conservative Party.
The bombastic 55-year-old former foreign secretary last night won the leadership race over Jeremy Hunt, with 92,153 votes to Mr Hunt’s 46,656.
In his victory speech, Mr Johnson paid tribute to his predecessor, Theresa May, thanking her for her “extraordinary service to this party and this country” and described his leadership opponent Mr Hunt as a “font of excellent ideas”.
He vowed to “deliver Brexit, unite the country and defeat Jeremy Corbyn” and thanked Tory members for the “extraordinary honour and privilege you have just conferred on me”.
Outgoing PM Theresa May tweeted: “Many congratulations to Boris Johnson on being elected leader of [the] Conservatives. We now need to work together to deliver a Brexit that works for the whole UK and to keep Jeremy Corbyn out of government. You will have my full support from the back benches.”
Minister of State for Skills and Apprenticeships Anne Milton resigned from the front bench before the vote, sending herself to the backbenches because of concerns Mr Johnson would run a no-deal Brexit.
“Having abstained in the vote last week, today I have resigned from the Government,” she said on Twitter.
Mr Johnson’s rise to the country’s highest post came amid an 11th hour challenge from senior Conservative critic Sir Alan Duncan, who tried to bring on an emergency debate to test whether Mr Johnson could command the confidence of the House of Commons.
His push was turned down by the Speaker and he resigned from his post as Foreign Office minister. Sir Alan said he was not being vindictive by bringing the application.
“I have very grave concerns that he flies by the seat of his pants and it’s all a bit haphazard and ramshackle,” he said.
Sir Alan was the latest in a string of ministers to quit their jobs in protest at Mr Johnson’s likely victory. Chancellor Philip Hammond and Justice Secretary David Gauke have said they would quit, with up to another three ministers likely to go.
Mr Johnson has inherited a wafer-thin majority of just two, after Tory MP Charlie Elphicke was charged with three counts of sexual assault against two women. His majority could be slashed to just one seat if the Conservatives lose a by-election on August 1, putting him in a vulnerable position if any rebel MPs decided to bring a vote of no-confidence in him that could spark a general election.
Mr Johnson’s election is likely to be a trade boon Down Under, with the incoming PM previously declaring Australia would be “at, or near, the front of the queue for a new Free Trade Agreement with Britain”.
But David McCredie from the Australian British Chamber of Commerce cautioned against unrealistic expectations.
“[Boris] has made several pointed comments about reengaging with Australia, particularly as a staging post for UK businesses looking into Asia,” he said. “But don’t expect him to drop everything and rush into a free trade deal with Australia with no view of other markets.”
Mr Johnson has been unbowed in the face of criticism and reaffirmed his commitment to leave the European Union by October 31, even without a deal, which could plunge the UK into a recession.