NOW BRING US SUNSHINE!
EU talks looming. Rebel MPs plotting. But after Boris wins landslide vote with a burst of optimism on the day Britain baked, a Brexit-weary nation’s cry is...
BORIS Johnson last night vowed to defy the doom-mongers and restore Britain’s self-belief.
Giving an upbeat vision of a re-energised nation, the new Conservative leader pledged
to end the Brexit paralysis and banish negativity.
Mr Johnson, 55, will achieve his boyhood dream of becoming prime minister this afternoon after crushing Jeremy Hunt by a margin of two to one in a vote by party activists. But he faces a daunting in-tray, which includes leaving the European Union in 100 days, defusing the crisis with Iran and reviving his party’s electoral fortunes – all with a Commons majority of just two.
Yesterday, he promised to start by working ‘flat out’ to deliver
Brexit by October 31. He is also lining up a policy blitz ahead of a general election that allies admit could be only months away.
Mr Johnson will face an exodus of ministers today, with Philip Hammond, David Gauke, Rory Stewart and Claire Perry all expected to resign from the Cabinet immediately after Theresa May takes her final prime minister’s questions.
Last night he told a meeting of Tory MPs he would ‘love bomb’ his critics in an attempt to unite a party that has been riven with conflict since the 2016 referendum.
Within hours of his win, he phoned one of them – Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson – as he looked to reiterate his commitment to preserving the Union.
The call came as Miss Davidson warned that the new prime minister must stop the SNP from holding another independence referendum – something First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was already calling for yesterday, saying she had ‘profound concerns’ about Mr Johnson’s leadership.
Today, he will put the finishing touches to a major reshuffle that will see Priti Patel make a remarkable return to frontline politics, possibly as home secretary.
Sources said the shake-up would create the most ethnically diverse Cabinet ever, with Sajid Javid strongly tipped to be chancellor and Mr Johnson’s long-time ally Alok Sharma expected to be housing minister.
Sources in the Johnson camp said the number of full female Cabinet ministers would increase from the present five.
Liz Truss is certain to get a senior role and was still in the running for chancellor last night. Amber Rudd and Penny Mordaunt are expected to retain their seats at the top table, while Andrea Leadsom is tipped for a return.
Sir Michael Fallon urged ‘self-indulgent’ critics threatening to bring down Mr Johnson to give him a chance, saying: ‘Let sunshine win the day.’
In a statement of intent, Mr Johnson is planning to embark on a tour of the four nations of the UK to counter claims that his tough stance on Brexit risks fracturing the Union.
As Donald Trump hailed Mr Johnson as ‘Britain’s Trump’ and claimed he would become a great prime minister:
The new Tory leader said he would review the HS2 project and end the ‘witch hunt’ against Northern Ireland veterans;
Mr Hunt was warned he would lose his status as foreign secretary;
Mr Farage offered to form an electoral pact to deliver a No Deal Brexit;
Mr Johnson was cheered by Tory MPs after telling them that an early election was not a priority;
Mark Spencer, who backed Remain, was handed the critical role of chief whip;
The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier rebuffed Mr Johnson’s call for a rewritten withdrawal agreement;
Jeremy Corbyn called for a general election but indicated he would delay forcing a formal vote of no confidence;
DUP leader Arlene Foster said her party would back Mr Johnson’s government.
Mrs May will resign as prime minister this afternoon, after which the Queen will invite Mr Johnson to Buckingham Palace.
Yesterday’s result confirmed that Mr Johnson’s blend of optimism and Brexit determination had proved a winning formula with Tory activists.
He secured 92,153 votes – 66.4 per cent – to defeat Mr Hunt, who was backed by 46,656 Tory members – 33.6 per cent.
Mr Johnson said: ‘We are once again going to believe in ourselves and what we can achieve. And like some slumbering giant, we are going to rise and ping off the guy ropes of self-doubt and negativity, we are going to unite this amazing country and we are going to take it forward.’
Referring to his promise to deliver Brexit, unite the nation and defeat Labour, he added: ‘I know some wag has already pointed out that deliver, unite and defeat was not the perfect acronym for an election campaign, since unfortunately it spells dud – but they forgot the final “e” my friends, “e” for energise. And I say to all the doubters, dude, we are going to energise the country.’
Education Minister Anne Milton yesterday became the latest Remainer minister to quit, saying she had ‘grave concerns’ about No Deal. Former Tory leader William Hague warned No Deal could put his government ‘in near-terminal trouble from its first hour’. Veteran Tory MP Sir Keith Simpson described the new regime as a ‘circus’ and branded MPs clamouring for government jobs ‘ambitious little s***s’.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Johnson acknowledged he had his doubters, saying: ‘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.’
In an olive branch to his critics, sources said he would today offer plum jobs to rising stars Oliver Dowden, Rishi Sunak and Robert Jenrick, who backed Remain at the referendum.