POLITICIANS in Northern Ireland and the Republic last night met Boris Johnston's election as the new British Prime Minister with a mixed reaction with some moving to remind him of his "enormous responsibilities".
While the DUP, who have a confidence and supply deal with the Conservative Party, welcomed the victory of "committed Unionist" Mr Johnson, other parties in the north expressed concern, particularly in terms of the potential implications for Brexit.
DUP leader Arlene Foster, who yesterday spoke to Mr Johnson following his win, last night confirmed that the party's confidence and supply deal would continue under the new leadership.
"We discussed our shared objectives of strengthening every part of the union, ensuring the 2016 referendum result is implemented and seeing devolution restored in Northern Ireland," she said.
"That agreement included a review between each parliamentary session. This will take place over the coming weeks and will explore the policy priorities of both parties for the next parliamentary session".
While Ulster Unionist Party leader Robin Swann also congratulated Mr Johnson, he warned the new prime minister that his job came with "enormous responsibilities" at "such a critical time in the history of the United Kingdom".
"The bottom line for the prime minister is that any decisions he takes must be in the best interests of all of the United Kingdom and that includes doing everything possible to avoid a no-deal Brexit," he said.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood described Mr Johnson's election as a "worrying step toward a hard no-deal Brexit and a hard border in Ireland".
"Johnson has coasted into Downing Street on a wave of Brexit bluff and bluster," he said.
"It won't be long until he crashes into the rocky reality that the European Union will not sacrifice the interests of Ireland to appease a man who has lied and slandered its institutions in an effort to secure power."
Alliance leader Naomi Long said the UK needed a "statesman, not a showman".
Ms Long said it was "vital" that as Mr Johnson "takes up the reins as prime minister, he demonstrates a level of leadership and seriousness which has been lacking to date".
Green Party NI leader Clare Bailey said Mr Johnson had been selected as the next prime minister by the Tory Party and had "no mandate from the people".
Meanwhile, Dr William Henry, the head of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, urged Mr Johnson to take a "keen and personal interest" in the ongoing political talks to restore devolved government at Stormont.
Dr Henry has also written to Mr Johnson asking him to "actively encourage those involved to go the extra mile".
Politicians in the Republic also raised concerns.
Posting on social media, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: "Congratulations to Boris Johnson on his election as party leader. Look forward to an early engagement on Brexit, Northern Ireland and bilateral relations."
Simon Coveney, Minister for Foreign Affairs, also congratulated the new leader adding "we will work constructively with him and his Govt to maintain and strengthen British/Irish relations through the challenges of Brexit".
However, Sinn Féin Brexit spokesman David Cullinane said the party is "very concerned that Boris is not going to make any serious effort to reach any kind of accommodation with the European Union" while People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said Mr Johnson's election presented a "clear and present danger to Ireland", adding that it brought "the prospect of no-deal and the imposition of a north-south border much closer".
