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Boris Johnson elected as new British Conservative Party leader

Johnson will now take over as prime minister from Theresa May

LONDON, July 23. /TASS/. Boris Johnson has been elected as leader of the British Conservative Party, 1922 Committee Vice Chair Cheryl Gillan announced on Tuesday.

A total of 92,153 party members voted in his favor, while another 46,656 supported Johnson’s rival Jeremy Hunt.

Johnson, who served as London mayor in 2008-2016 and as foreign minister in 2016-2018, will now take over as prime minister from Theresa May. He is expected to chair the first meeting of a new government on Thursday.

In his speech, the new Conservative Party leader vowed to deliver Brexit by October 31. "I will work flat-out from now on with my team that I will build. The campaign is over and the work begins," he said.

On May 24, Theresa May announced plans to step down as Conservative Party leader and prime minister following failed attempts to persuade parliament members to approve the Brexit deal she had reached with EU leaders.