Boris Johnson news: New PM labelled ‘racist liar’ amid criticism at home, while Trump offers congratulations from US

Follow how the day in Westminster unfolded

Boris Johnson begins by thanking Jeremy Hunt and Theresa May as he is announced as new Conservative Party leader

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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Key Points

• Boris Johnson confirmed as new PM as Tory leadership contest ends
• EU shoots down Johnson's Brexit plan within moments of him becoming Tory leader
• Johnson expected to address Conservative MPs this afternoon 
• Tory minister quits over 'grave concerns' about no-deal support

[23 July 2019 19:59 · Samuel Osborne]

This is what Americans think of Boris Johnson: 

[23 July 2019 20:17 · Samuel Osborne]

Sky News reported that Sky's chief financial officer, Andrew Griffith - who owns the £9.5m Westminster townhouse used by Mr Johnson as a campaign base - will be a corporate adviser to the new prime minister.

[23 July 2019 20:34 · Samuel Osborne]

Mr Johnson may have succeeded in winning over the Tory party to become leader, but a poll suggests nearly half of voters expect him to be a poor or terrible prime minister.

He is also far less popular than Theresa May when she entered No 10, and 46 per cent think he will damage the UK's reputation abroad, according to the YouGov poll.

The research said he has a net favourability score of -27, compared to +12 for Mrs May when she took the helm in 2016.

When she called an election the following year, she lost the Conservatives' majority.

In the poll of 1,655 adults over the weekend, 50 per cent said Mr Johnson would be a "poor" or "terrible" PM compared to 20 per cent who agreed he would be "good" or "great".

It also shed light on what the public thinks the former foreign secretary will do for the UK's reputation abroad.

Some 46 per cent said he would worsen Britain's image, while 16 per cent said he will improve it.

[23 July 2019 20:48 · Samuel Osborne]

Nicola Sturgeon has said it is "more important than ever" for the Scottish government to plan for a second vote on independence after Boris Johnson won the keys to Number 10.

After the former foreign secretary was elected as Theresa May's successor, the Scottish first minister said she had "profound concerns about the prospect of his premiership".

The SNP leader insisted the incoming prime minister's plans to complete Brexit "do or die" by 31 October were "deeply irresponsible".

And while she vowed her government and the SNP would oppose a no-deal exit from the European Union, she made clear Scots should have the "right to determine our own future".

Ms Sturgeon tweeted: "I will continue to advance the preparations to give Scotland the right to choose our own future through independence, rather than having a future that we don't want imposed on us by Boris Johnson and the Tories. That is now more important than ever."

[23 July 2019 21:17 · Samuel Osborne]

Theresa May was presented with gifts of a handbag and necklace by ministers at her final Cabinet meeting as head of government.

Members of Ms May's top team clapped and banged the Cabinet table in a show of appreciation for the outgoing premier.

Michael Gove, the environment secretary, presented the PM with the gifts on behalf of ministers who had a whip-round to purchase them.

Mr Gove handed Mrs May a black handbag from Liberty and a Lalique necklace as presents.

"There was a mood of thanking the Prime Minister for her service," the prime minister's official spokesman told a Westminster briefing.

The PM's spokesman said: "On behalf of the Cabinet, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster ended by thanking the prime minister for her great dedication to public service and her commitment to the Union."

The spokesman added: "The PM said the government could be proud of the progress made.

"Particularly in tackling the burning injustices such as access to mental health treatment.

"The PM thanked the Cabinet for all they have done during her premiership, which she said had done much to improve people's lives."

[23 July 2019 21:27 · Samuel Osborne]

[23 July 2019 22:55 · Samuel Osborne]

Iran has rejected plans for a European maritime force to defend shipping in the Straight of Hormuz announced by Jeremy Hunt earlier this week, in what will be one of Mr Johnson's first diplomatic challenges as he takes on the role of prime minister.