New British PM Boris Johnson is a Trump Favorite Who Pledges to Execute Brexit by October
Shane Trejo
|
The Conservative Party has elected Boris Johnson, a favorite of President Donald Trump who is an outspoken supporter of the Brexit, as the new Prime Minister of Britain, succeeding the vanquished Theresa May who recently resigned from her position.
Johnson won the vote of his party members by a resounding two-thirds majority, making him the clear choice to lead the Tories. He received 92,153 votes while his competitor, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, received only 46,656 votes.
Hunt was an outspoken campaigner for Britain to remain in the European Union while Johnson was and continues to be one of the most outspoken supporters of the leave campaign. It is clear that the Tories will be firmly behind the Brexit with Johnson at the helm, as his predecessor’s lack of strength on the issue ultimately sealed her political doom.
President Trump immediately talked up Johnson as the new British PM at a rally in Washington, offering him the highest of possible praise by comparing Johnson to himself.
“We have a really good man who’s going to be the prime minister of the UK now, Boris Johnson. He’s tough, he’s smart… they call him Britain Trump”
Donald Trump compares himself to the new Tory leader, saying he’ll do “a good job” as PM
[tap to expand] https://t.co/DCEu8NeqB0 pic.twitter.com/X8j57xAJFm
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) July 23, 2019
“We are going to energize the country,” Johnson said while giving his victory speech at the Queen Elizabeth II center in London.
“We are going to get Brexit done on 31 October and take advantage of all the opportunities it will bring with a new spirit of can do,” he added. “We are once again going to believe in ourselves, and like some slumbering giant we are going to rise and ping off the guy ropes of self doubt and negativity.”
Johnson’s full remarks can be seen here:
“Dude, we are going to energise the country, we are going to get #Brexit done”
Watch Boris Johnson’s victory speech in fullhttps://t.co/sVMmMsISis #NextPrimeMinister pic.twitter.com/C1T63lap4K
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) July 23, 2019
Johnson’s pledge to achieve a Brexit regardless of the negotiations has already caused the resignations of Education Minister Anne Milton and justice secretary David Gauke, two bureaucrats who want to continue to deny the people the Brexit they voted for.
Having abstained in the vote last week, today I have resigned from the Government. It has been an honour to serve on the Conservative frontbenches, my thanks to everyone I have had the pleasure of working alongside. pic.twitter.com/ELo1Y30YqC
— Anne Milton MP (@AnneMilton) July 23, 2019
Congratulations @BorisJohnson on being elected as Leader of @Conservatives and PM @10DowningStreet. An honour to serve in Cabinet @MoJGovUK, @DWP and @hmtreasury under @theresa_may. Looking forward to returning to backbenches tomorrow, serving people of South West Hertfordshire.
— David Gauke (@DavidGauke) July 23, 2019
It remains to be seen if Johnson can live up to his “do or die” mandate by Oct. 31. If he reneges on his pledge to pull off the Brexit by that date, he could be remembered alongside May as an ineffectual Tory PM as Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage waits in the wings.
Share: