Boris Johnson will be the UK’s new prime minister after being elected leader of the Conservative party today, heralding a momentous change in the country’s approach to leaving the European Union.



The former foreign secretary and mayor of London will take over in Downing Street on Wednesday after comfortably winning the support of the 160,000 Tory party members who got to vote on Theresa May’s successor.

Johnson, who won 66% of the votes cast, becomes leader at a pivotal moment in British history, with just 15 weeks until the UK is scheduled to leave the EU and no sign of a solution to the political crisis that crippled May’s government.

He has been a leading advocate of a hard break from the EU since resigning in protest at May’s Brexit strategy last July. In the leadership campaign, he insisted the UK would depart the EU on Oct. 31 one way or another, even if it means leaving without a withdrawal agreement.

Addressing the party after the result was announced, Johnson said: “We are going to energise the country. We’re going to get Brexit done on October 31. We’re going to take advantage of all the opportunities that it can bring in a new spirit of ‘can-do’.”

Responding to media reports pointing out the scale of the challenge facing the new prime minister, Johnson said to the crowd: “Do you look daunted? Do you feel daunted? I don’t think you look remotely daunted.”

In reality, though, Johnson inherits a divided party with a tiny working majority in Parliament, and is likely to quickly face obstacles that could hinder his administration.



One of Theresa May’s Cabinet ministers, the justice secretary David Gauke, immediately indicated on Twitter that he will resign and return to the backbenches rather than serve under Johnson.