LONDON (AP) Brexit hard-liner Boris Johnson, one of Britains most famous and divisive politicians, won the race to lead the governing Conservative Party today, and will become the next prime minister in a little over 24 hours.
Then he will have just over three months to make good on his promise to lead the country out of the European Union.
Johnson resoundingly defeated rival Jeremy Hunt in the Conservative leadership contest, winning two-thirds of the votes in a ballot of about 160,000 party members across the U.K. He will be installed as prime minister Wednesday in a formal handover from Theresa May.
In a brief speech to hundreds of party members and lawmakers gathered for the announcement, Johnson radiated optimism, pledging to deliver Brexit, unite the country and defeat Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposition Labour Party.
I think we know that we can do it, and that the people of this country are trusting in us to do it and we know that we will do it, said Johnson, a former London mayor and foreign secretary.
I say to all the doubters: Dude, we are going to energize the country, we are going to get Brexit done.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has praised Johnson in the past, tweeted his congratulations and said he will be great.
Trump has been very critical of Mays inability to achieve a Brexit deal and has said Johnson will do a better job.
Hunt, who trailed in the polls throughout the contest, said he was sure Johnson would do a great job.
Hes got optimism, enthusiasm, he puts a smile on peoples face and he has total, unshakable confidence in our amazing country, said Hunt, who is likely to be removed as foreign secretary by the new prime minister.
May stepped down after Parliament repeatedly rejected the withdrawal agreement she struck with the 28-nation bloc.
Famed for his bravado, quips in Latin and blond mop of hair, Johnson wooed Conservatives by promising to succeed where May failed and lead the U.K. out of the EU on the scheduled date of Oct. 31 with or without a divorce deal.
Johnson insists he can get the EU to renegotiate something the bloc insists it wont do. If not, he says Britain must leave the EU by the deadline, come what may.
Economists warn that a no-deal Brexit would disrupt trade and plunge the U.K. into recession. Fears that Britain is inching closer to crashing out of the bloc weighed on the pound once again Tuesday. The currency was down another 0.3 percent at $1.2450, nearly a two-year low.
Carolyn Fairbairn, director of the Confederation of British Industry, said businesses needed a withdrawal agreement with the EU to restore confidence that has been badly shaken by uncertainty about the terms of Brexit.
On Brexit, the new prime minister must not underestimate the benefits of a good deal, she said.
