Boris Johnson wins race to become UK’s next prime minister
Published:Tuesday | July 23, 2019 | 8:53 AM
LONDON (AP) — Brexit hard-liner Boris Johnson, one of Britain’s most famous and divisive politicians, won the race to lead the governing Conservative Party on Tuesday, and will become the next prime minister in a little over 24 hours.
Then he will have just over three months to make good on his promise to lead the country out of the European Union.
Johnson resoundingly defeated rival Jeremy Hunt in the Conservative leadership contest, winning two-thirds of the votes in a ballot of about 160,000 party members across the U.K.
He will be installed as prime minister Wednesday in a formal handover from Theresa May.
In a brief speech to hundreds of party members and lawmakers gathered for the announcement, Johnson radiated optimism, pledging to “deliver Brexit, unite the country and defeat Jeremy Corbyn,” leader of the opposition Labour Party.
“I think we know that we can do it, and that the people of this country are trusting in us to do it and we know that we will do it,” said Johnson, a former London mayor and foreign secretary.
“I say to all the doubters: Dude, we are going to energise the country, we are going to get Brexit done.”
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has praised Johnson in the past, tweeted his congratulations and said he will be “great.”
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