This archive report was first published on 23 July 2019.
July 23, 2019 - Boris Johnson has been elected as the UK's next Prime Minister, defeating Jeremy Hunt in the Conservative party leadership contest.
Johnson secured a resounding victory, earning 92,153 votes to Hunt's 46,656.
His victory sets the stage for a Brexit showdown with the EU and a constitutional crisis at home, as British lawmakers have vowed to bring down any government that tries to leave the bloc without a divorce deal.
Johnson will make his first speech as Conservative leader before taking over as PM on Wednesday, when he will meet with Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace to be formally appointed.
Johnson's victory is a significant moment in British history, marking the first time an avowed Brexit supporter has taken office since the 2016 referendum.
However, Johnson's tenure is set to be marked by turmoil, as he faces opposition from lawmakers and investors who warn that a no-deal Brexit could send shock waves through world markets and tip the UK's economy into recession.
