Johnson sweeps to power

● New Tory leader becomes prime minister today with just 100 days until Brexit deadline ● Sturgeon says she may ‘accelerate plans’ for a second independence referendum ● Europe stands firm but warns a no-deal would be a ‘tragedy’ for both sides

Johnson will become prime minister this afternoon after being handed a landslide victory by Conservative Party members, but faces an immediate challenge over his Brexit policy with just 100 days until the UK is scheduled to leave the EU.

The new Prime Minister will begin assembling his government this afternoon after walkouts by some of Theresa May’s most senior ministers, who refused to serve under Mr Johnson and oppose any move towards a no-deal Brexit.

Nicola Sturgeon, who is expected to meet Mr Johnson when he visits Scotland next week, said she had “profound concerns” about his preboris miership, and suggested the Scottish Government could “accelerate” its plans for a second independence referendum.

And the EU insisted it would stick with the existing Brexit deal that Mr Johnson has repeatedly said is “dead”, with the European Commission vice-president Frans Timmermans warning a no-deal Brexit would be a “tragedy” for both sides. But the new Tory leader received a swift and warm endorsement from US president Donald Trump, who praised him as “Britain Trump” and said: “Boris is good.”

Mr Johnson defeated foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt by a two-to-one margin, securing 92,153 votes to Mr Hunt’s 46,656. He used his victory speech to promise he will “energise the country” and meet the 31 October Brexit deadline with a “new spirit of can-do”.

Acknowledging his divisive style, Mr Johnson said: “I know that there will be people around the place who will question the wisdom of your decision. And there may even be some people here who still wonder quite what they have done. I would