UK

Boris Johnson is the next British prime minister

 Boris Johnson speaks at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London after being announced as the new Conservative party leader and next British prime minister. Picture by Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
 Boris Johnson speaks at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London after being announced as the new Conservative party leader and next British prime minister. Picture by Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire  Boris Johnson speaks at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London after being announced as the new Conservative party leader and next British prime minister. Picture by Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

Boris Johnson will become British prime minister after securing victory in the battle for the Conservative Party leadership.

The former foreign secretary, who was the firm favourite to win the contest, defeated Jeremy Hunt in the ballot of Tory members.

Mr Johnson secured 92,153 of the vote compared to 46,656 for Mr Hunt to win the Tory leadership.

Boris Johnson's share of the vote - 66.4% - is slightly lower than the share won by David Cameron in the 2005 Conservative leadership election (67.6%). 

Mr Johnson will be the fifth prime minister since the Second World War to have been educated at Eton College.

He will be appointed as prime minister tomorrow by Queen Elizabeth after Theresa May formally resigns from the office.

The Queen has seen 13 prime ministers come and go during her reign, with Boris Johnson soon to become her 14th.

Read more:Mixed reaction to victory of 'Mr Marmite' Boris Johnson

 Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire
 Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire  Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire
 Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire
 Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire  Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire
 Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire
 Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire  Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire
 Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire
 Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire  Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire
 Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire
 Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire  Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire
 Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire
 Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire  Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire
 Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire
 Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire  Jeremy Hunt offers his hand to Boris Johnson after the latter was selected as the new leader of the Conservative Party. Picture by Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire

Tory backbencher Charles Walker had issued a plea to the party shortly before the announcement of Boris Johnson as new leader.

"Can we be kinder to the next prime minister than we have been to the current prime minister," the MP said from the stage.

Mrs May will take one last round of Prime Minister's Question in the Commons today before travelling to Buckingham Palace to offer her resignation.

Read more: Be afraid – it's Boris in No 10 and Brexit on the horizon

 Ian Knox cartoon 23/7/19 - Even more than his mendacity and clownish ineptitude, Boris is defined by his shameless ruthless and successful lust for power
 Ian Knox cartoon 23/7/19 - Even more than his mendacity and clownish ineptitude, Boris is defined by his shameless ruthless and successful lust for power  Ian Knox cartoon 23/7/19 - Even more than his mendacity and clownish ineptitude, Boris is defined by his shameless ruthless and successful lust for power
 Ian Knox cartoon 23/7/19 - Even more than his mendacity and clownish ineptitude, Boris is defined by his shameless ruthless and successful lust for power
 Ian Knox cartoon 23/7/19 - Even more than his mendacity and clownish ineptitude, Boris is defined by his shameless ruthless and successful lust for power  Ian Knox cartoon 23/7/19 - Even more than his mendacity and clownish ineptitude, Boris is defined by his shameless ruthless and successful lust for power

Read more:Mixed reaction to victory of 'Mr Marmite' Boris Johnson

 Boris Johnson has won the Conservative Party leadership race
 Boris Johnson has won the Conservative Party leadership race  Boris Johnson has won the Conservative Party leadership race