Boris Johnson elected as new Tory leader, set to become UK PM

Boris Johnson was elected the new leader of the Conservative Party in a ballot of party members and is set to replace Theresa May to become the next prime minister of UK.

Johnson beat Jeremy Hunt comfortably, winning 92,153 votes to his rival's 46,656.

In his victory speech, Johnson promised he would "deliver Brexit, unite the country and defeat Jeremy Corbyn".

Speaking at the Queen Elizabeth II centre in London, he said: "We are going to energise the country.

"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.

"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 thanked his predecessor, saying it had been "a privilege to serve in her cabinet". He was May's foreign secretary until resigning over Brexit.

The outgoing PM May congratulated Johnson, promising him her "full support from the backbenches".

Foreign Secretary Hunt said he was "very disappointed", but Johnson would do "a great job". He said he had "total, unshakeable confidence in our country" and that was a valuable quality at such a challenging time.

Hunt added: "It was always going to be uphill for us because I was someone who voted Remain and I think lots of party members felt that this was a moment when you just had to have someone who voted for Brexit in the referendum.

"In retrospect, that was a hurdle we were never able to overcome."

US President Donald Trump also sent his congratulations to Johnson, tweeting: "He will be great!"