The removal of the United Kingdom
from membership in the European Union has become a politically fatal endeavor
for the country’s Prime Minister. David Cameron, who had been put up into
launching the “Brexit” referendum back in 2016, resigned both office and
political career when the “Leave” votes won, as he had hoped it would enforce
the notion that most of the country wanted to remain. His successor at the head
of the Conservative/Tory Party, Theresa May, tried to carry out the Brexit
procedure but was stymied by extremists who favored leaving without any deals,
something she sought to avoid. She too resigned recently, leading to another
Tory leadership election.
After a drawn-out struggle
between party candidates, the former Mayor of London and UK Foreign Secretary
Boris Johnson was elected to lead the Conservatives Tuesday, July 23 according
to BBC. He thus assumes leadership
from Theresa May and, as the Tories are the leading party in Parliament will
become the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom effective the following
day, July 24. In the final stretch the election came down to between him and
incumbent Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt. Johnson garnered 92,153 votes to Hunt's
46,656, cementing his win.
Born 1964 in New York City and
thus holding dual US-UK citizenship, Johnson will be the first PM since Andrew
Bonar Law (from Canada, PM 1922-23) to be born outside the British Isles. He
often describes himself as a “one-man melting pot,” with his immediate ancestors
from various countries and ethnicities, and even a patrilineal descent from
King George II. Johnson however, has also been one of the most vocal proponents
of the Brexit initiative, and one of the leading Tories to push for EU
withdrawal without establishing any post-membership arrangements: the “no-deal”
Brexit option.
That much was evident when Boris
Johnson delivered his victory speech at London’s Queen Eizabeth II Centre. "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 declared, further
insinuating that making no deals for EU withdrawal will not sink the country’s
economy overnight. "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." He then thanked his predecessor Theresa May,
under whom he served as Foreign Secretary before leaving due to her insistence
that Brexit be “with-deal.”
On July 24, still-Prime Minister
May will take her last “PM’s Questions” in parliament, before making a farewell
speech and presenting her resignation to Queen Elizabeth II. Johnson will
follow afterwards to receive the Queen’s invitation to form a government, thus officially
becoming Prime Minister.
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