BORIS JOHNSON triumphed in the Tory leadership contest and was crowned next Conservative leader by an overwhelming majority of party members.
* Boris Johnson becomes new UK Prime Minister
The former Foreign Secretary has won the Tory leadership contest after six weeks of hustings, intense scrutiny and head-to-head debates. A total of 160,000 Conservative members were allowed to cast their ballot and decide who should replace Theresa May as leader of the party and the country. The result was announced just after 12pm at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in central London following a brief speech by the chairman of the Conservative Party, Brandon Lewis MP.
Dame Cheryl Gillan MP, co-chair of the powerful 1922 Committee, announced the results, saying Mr Hunt gained 46,656 votes against Mr Johnson, who obtained 92,153 votes.
The election’s turnout was of 87.4 percent and 509 rejected ballot papers were counted.
The Brexiteer is now expected to meet the Queen tomorrow, after Mrs May’s last PMQs at noon and her meeting with the monarch, during which she will resign and put forward Mr Johnson’s name as her successor.
Later in the afternoon, Mr Johnson will likely make a statement in Downing Street before stepping into No10 for the first time as Prime Minister, achieving his life-long dream.
During his victory speech, the former Foreign Secretary thanked Mrs May for her “extraordinary service” to the country and the party.
He then repeated his campaign mantra, saying he will work to “delive Brexit, unite the country and defeat Jeremy Corbyn”.
He continued: “I know some wag who has already pointed out that deliver, unite and defeat was not the perfect acronym for an election campaign since unfortunately it spells dud.
Boris Johnson has been crowned new Prime Minister
Boris Johnson was crowned winner of the contest by Dame Cheryl Gillan MP“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, we are going to get Brexit done on October 31, we are going to take advantage of all the opportunities that it will bring in a new spirit of can do’.
“And 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.”
Mr Hunt, who lost the race against Mr Johnson, said: “Congratulations Boris Johnson for a campaign well fought.
“You’ll be a great Prime Minister for our country at this critical moment!
“Throughout campaign, you showed optimism, energy and unbounded confidence in our wonderful country and we need that. All best wishes from the entrepreneur.”
Mrs May also congratulated to Mr Johnson for his triumph and pledged to support him from the back benches.
She wrote on Twitter: “Many congratulations to Boris Johnson on being elected leader of 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.”
