This archive report was first published on 23 July 2019.
July 23, 2019
Boris Johnson has been elected as the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, following a leadership contest within the Conservative Party.
Johnson, a former London Mayor, won the contest by a significant margin, beating his rival Jeremy Hunt, the Foreign Secretary.
He is expected to be formally confirmed as Prime Minister on Wednesday, when his predecessor Theresa May will tender her resignation to Queen Elizabeth II.
Johnson's victory comes at a time of great uncertainty for the UK, with the country still reeling from the 2016 Brexit referendum.
He has pledged to deliver Brexit by October 31, with or without a deal, but Brussels has ruled out renegotiating the existing agreement.
Johnson's cabinet is expected to be announced in the coming days, but several ministers have already expressed concerns about his Brexit strategy.
Finance Minister Philip Hammond and two other cabinet ministers have announced their resignation, while junior foreign minister Alan Duncan has revealed he sought to force a vote on Johnson's leadership.
However, the main opposition Labour party is not expected to force a confidence vote this week, and several Conservative MPs have expressed willingness to give Johnson a chance to deliver Brexit.
Johnson's domestic battles may have to take a backseat in the coming days, as he manages tensions with Iran, following the seizure of a British tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.
