Boris Johnson news: New PM labelled ‘racist liar’ amid criticism at home, while Trump offers congratulations from US
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson has been confirmed as the next prime minister as the result of the Tory leadership contest is announced.
Anne Milton, an education minister, resigned minutes before the announcement, saying she had “grave concerns” over Mr Johnson’s threats of a no-deal Brexit.
Other ministers are expected to follow suit before the new prime minister takes over from Theresa May tomorrow.
The new Tory leader 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”.
Mr Johnson secured more than two-thirds of the votes in the contest, comfortably defeating Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary..
In an apparent acknowledgement of 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 just point out to you of course nobody, no one party, no one person has a monopoly of wisdom. But if you look at the history of the last 200 years of this party’s existence you will see that it is we Conservatives who have had the best insights, I think, into human nature.”
Elsewhere, Labour’s ruling executive is due to meet for what will inevitably be a heated discussion on the party’s response to antisemitism.
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We were expecting the announcement of who will be the next prime minister to begin around 11.40am, with the actual result around 11.50am, so we are already quite a way behind schedule...
Things are finally getting underway at the QEII centre - almost 20 minutes later than planned. We're expecting a short speech from Brandon Lewis, the party chairman, before the result is announced.
Brandon Lewis, chairman of the Conservative Party, is now speaking.
He says the candidates have covered 3,000 miles and taken more than 400 questions. He thanks Tory members, saying they have "undertaken a solemn duty in choosing our next leader, who will be this country's next prime minister".
He ends by thanking Theresa May and urging Tories to "come together and unite in the national interest" to deliver Brexit.
He welcomes Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt to the stage.
The result itself will be announced by the returning officers, Cheryl Gillan and Charles Walker, the vice-chairs of the 1922 Committee that represents Conservative MPs.
The returning officers on stage. Charles Walker urges his party to "be kinder to the next prime minister than we've been to the current prime minister".
TORY LEADERSHIP RESULT
Boris Johnson - 92,153
Jeremy Hunt - 46,656
Total votes cast: 159,320
Turnout 87.4%.
Boris Johnson will be the UK's next prime minister.
Boris Johnson is now speaking.
He begins by thanking Jeremy Hunt, calling his rival an "absolutely formidable" campaigner and saying he has been "friendly, good-natured and a fount of excellent ideas - all of which I plan to steal".
He also thanks Theresa May for her service.
He says he knows people will question the "wisdom" of electing him as Tory leader but says it is Conservatives who know best how to manage "the jostling instincts of the human heart": people's desire to own a home, look after their money, look after the needy and share prosperity.
Boris Johnson says the Tories must again manage two instincts: the desire for internationalism, trade and co-operation on one hand, and on the other the need for "democratic self-government in this country".
He says some people say they are irreconcilable but they are not, and that others say no incoming prime minister has never faced such a daunting set of circumstances. He says Conservatives are not daunted and "we know we can do it and the people of this country are trusting in us to do it".
Mr Johnson says his campaign mantra is "deliver Brexit, unite the country and defeat Jeremy Corbyn" and adds: "And that is what we are going do do".
Of the UK, he says "like some slumbering giant we are going to rise and ping off the guy roped of self-doubt" and finishes his first speech as Tory leader by saying: "The campaign is over and the work begins".
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