Boris Johnson elected UK Prime Minister

AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Boris Johnson was selected as the new leader of the British Conservative Party and thus, the new prime minister of the UK.

Johnson won with 66.4 percent of the vote over Hunt's 33.6 percent. 139,318 votes were cast by Tory members with a turnout was 87.4 percent, as Johnson won 92,153 votes, compared to 46,656 for Hunt.

He will replace Theresa May in 10 Downing Street later on Tuesday and will set about reshuffling his Cabinet.

The former Mayor of London and former British foreign secretary promised Tory members he would deliver Brexit before October 31, despite a seemingly interminable stalemate in Parliament.

In his first speech as leader, Johnson said many people will question the wisdom of him becoming the Tory party leader and prime minister, adding, "No one party has a monopoly on wisdom but you will see that we Conservatives have had the best insight to human nature... and time again it is to us that the people have turned."

"I say to all the doubters, we are going to get energised and we are going to get Brexit done," he stated, noting, "We are going to unite this incredible country."

May stepped down after repeatedly failing to get Parliament to ratify her Brexit deal. Johnson has promised to push through a “no deal” Brexit if he cannot renegotiate a new deal with the European Union, despite fears Tory rebels will ally with Labour and the Liberal Democrats to block a no deal Brexit in Parliament. ​The EU has repeatedly stressed it will not revive talks on the withdrawal deal and Johnson will be forced to engage all his legendary charm to get French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other European leaders to budge.

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