Boris Johnson news: New PM labelled ‘racist liar’ amid criticism at home, while Trump offers congratulations from US
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson has been confirmed as the next prime minister as the result of the Tory leadership contest is announced.
Anne Milton, an education minister, resigned minutes before the announcement, saying she had “grave concerns” over Mr Johnson’s threats of a no-deal Brexit.
Other ministers are expected to follow suit before the new prime minister takes over from Theresa May tomorrow.
The new Tory leader used his victory speech to promise he will “energise the country” and meet the 31 October Brexit deadline with a “new spirit of can-do”.
Mr Johnson secured more than two-thirds of the votes in the contest, comfortably defeating Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary..
In an apparent acknowledgement of his divisive style, Mr Johnson said: “I know that there will be people around the place who will question the wisdom of your decision.
“And there may even be some people here who still wonder quite what they have done.
“I would just point out to you of course nobody, no one party, no one person has a monopoly of wisdom. But if you look at the history of the last 200 years of this party’s existence you will see that it is we Conservatives who have had the best insights, I think, into human nature.”
Elsewhere, Labour’s ruling executive is due to meet for what will inevitably be a heated discussion on the party’s response to antisemitism.
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David Gauke, the current justice secretary, has said he is confident there are "parliamentary mechanisms" to stop Boris Johnson forcing through a no-deal Brexit.
Mr Gauke, who has said he will not serve under Mr Johnson, insisted this would "not necessarily" involve bringing down the next government.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today:
"I think that there will be parliamentary mechanisms, if you like. There is a clear majority in the House of Commons that doesn't want to leave the EU without a deal, I think that will become very clear in the autumn."
He added:
"Are there circumstances where there is a risk of a government losing a confidence motion? Yes, clearly there are circumstances where there is a risk that that might happen. I think that the new prime minister would be wise to avoid getting into those circumstances."
Boris Johnson has arrived at his campaign HQ in Westminster, telling reporters he agreed with Jeremy Hunt, his rival, that it was "all to play for". Clearly no one has told the pair that, in fact, voting closed yesterday...
The Conservatives published this on their website earlier in preparation for the new prime minister being announced. At least someone is prepared...
Theresa May will chair her last cabinet meeting today before stepping down tomorrow.
Ahead of the meeting, energy minister Chris Skidmore tweets...
Michael Fallon, the former defence secretary, has insisted that Boris Johnson will be able to negotiate new concessions from the EU.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today:
"Nobody is aiming for no-deal, that is not the strategy. We want a better deal, parliament wants a better deal, and Boris Johnson has made clear throughout that he wants a better deal.
"But the way to get a better deal is to be very firm that that date is there in law.
"There are three months now before the end of October and it is perfectly possible, with plenty of goodwill on both sides, to improve the agreement so that Parliament does, in the end, support it."
Insisting the change in government could end the Brexit impasse, he added:
"Let sunshine win the day. Boris is optimistic about this, he is ambitious about this. We have three months to get wording that parliament will approve.
"I think you will find that a new government, a new mandate which Boris, I hope, will get this morning, a new focus, new ministers in charge, a fresh negotiating team - I think you will find that Brussels will not be unwilling to say 'OK, what are the points that you need to satisfy parliament on?'"
Jeremy Hunt is out and about this morning, and was spotted leaving Lancaster House a few minutes ago.
In case you were wondering, we're expecting the Tory leadership announcement to begin at 11.40am, with the actual result (after the inevitable preamble) set to be declared around 11.50am.
The winner - almost certainly Boris Johnson - will then give their first speech as Conservative leader.
They won't take over as prime minister until Wednesday, though. Tomorrow Theresa May will take her last session of PMQs before heading to Buckingham Palace to hand her resignation to the Queen.
The monarch will then summon the new prime minister for a short meeting before Mr Johnson (of, if there is a major upset, Jeremy Hunt...) heads to Downing Street to make a short statement before entering No10 for the first time as prime minister.
Ministers are now in No10 for Theresa May's last cabinet meeting as prime minister. They are understood to be discussing the long-term plan for the NHS.
On the way into Downing Street, Rory Stewart, the current international development secretary, was asked if he would serve under Boris Johnson. He simply replied: "No".
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