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Trump congratulates Boris Johnson, saying he will be 'great' as UK's next PM – live news Trump claims Boris Johnson popular in UK because he's seen as 'Britain's Trump' - live news
(about 2 hours later)
And, on the subject of Hormuz, this is from Iran’s foreign minister, Javad Zarif. Here is some more international reaction to Boris Johnson’s election.
The May govt's seizure of Iranian oil at behest of US is piracy, pure & simple. I congratulate my former counterpart, @BorisJohnson on becoming UK PM.Iran does not seek confrontation. But we have 1500 miles of Persian Gulf coastline.These are our waters & we will protect them pic.twitter.com/svEqmEHQBM From the Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau
This is from Norbert Röttgen, chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the German Bundestag. Congratulations, @BorisJohnson - I look forward to working with you to keep the close friendship between Canada & the UK strong and to increase trade and create more jobs for people in both our countries.
What a historical coincidence: The day #BorisJohnson is elected, it becomes evident that experiencing an international crisis, the #UK, like any other small and middle power, depends on #European solidarity to defend its security interests internationally. #Brexit #Hormuz From the former Danish PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen
This is from Leo Varadkar, the Irish taoiseach (prime minister). Congratulations on your appointment as PM of UK @BorisJohnson. “No one has a monopoly on wisdom”, you just said. I truely hope you will remember your own words and listen to the majority in UK and EU who wants a balanced and negotiated Brexit.
Congratulations to @borisjohnson on his election as party leader. Look forward to an early engagement on #Brexit, Northern Ireland and bilateral relations From the Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg
Congratulations @BorisJohnson on your election to be the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The UK is a strong Ally & I look forward to working closely with you, including to prepare the meeting of #NATO leaders in London in December. pic.twitter.com/Uew8huJdBx
That’s all from me for today.
My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is now taking over.
This is from the BBC’s Steve Rosenberg, on how Russian TV is covering this story.
Russia’s Channel 1 on Britain’s new PM: anchor says “Boris Johnson is best known, not for his work, but his eccentricity.” Theresa May is depicted as Mary Poppins flying away “having been a total failure.” I get the feeling Russian TV’s enjoying this... pic.twitter.com/BsEbGGan7l
Following her muted congratulations statement earlier, the Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has told BBC Scotland that she will judge Boris Johnson on his actions in office, pointing out that he was not her first choice and that she did not vote for him. She added that he would have to “make a pretty good fist of it pretty early” because of the challenges he faces. During the interview in Newcastle this afternoon, Davidson reportedly missed a call from Johnson, which she returned.
As my colleague Joan E Greve writes on US Politics Live, my Washington equivalent, in his speech to Turning Point USA President Trump also said that Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, who was in the audience, would work well with Boris Johnson. This is from the Wall Street Journal’s Vivian Salama.
Trump notes that Nigel Farage is in the crowd for his speech to Turning Point USA. "I said 'what's Nigel doing here?' He's a little older than you folks. He's going to work well with Boris. They're going to do tremendous things." He adds: "Boris is good. he'll do a good job."
This is not what Boris Johnson has been saying in the campaign, where he has ruled out electoral pacts with Farage, or giving him a role in the Brexit talks.
The Teleraph’s Ben Riley-Smith has the full quote from Donald Trump.
BREAKING: Trump praises “tough” and “smart” Boris Johnson. Also says he’s known as ‘Britain Trump’. Quote below. pic.twitter.com/eqNxIkmxJu
This is from CBS’s Mark Knoller.
"Good man," says Pres Trump of Britain's next Prime Minister Boris Johnson. "He's tough and he's smart," @POTUS tells conservative teen student summit. Says Johnson is known as "Britain's Trump. They like me over there," says @POTUS. pic.twitter.com/8LJfKULMpU
President Trump has got this half right. Boris Johnson is often compared to Trump. But that is because they both have blond hair and say lots of things that are untrue. Outside Tory/Brexit/Daily Telegraph circles, the comparison is not generally viewed as a compliment.
This is from Newt Gingrich, the US Republican who was Speaker of the House of Representatives in the late 1990s. Gingrich specialised in hardline, adversarial tactics (his refusal to pass budgets led to several government shutdowns) and he is seen as someone who in some respects paved the way for the politics of Donald Trump.
Boris Johnson is the Donald Trump of Britain.Put on your seat belt and prepare for a wild ride.He will cut through a lot of the conventional wisdom and the European bureaucrats will find he is much smarter and tougher than his predecessor.Think Margaret Thatcher with wild hair.
This is probably not the endorsement Boris Johnson wants if he is keen to be seen as a one nation Tory.
On a good day to slip out written ministerial statements: the transport secretary, Chris Grayling, has revealed that the cost of the troubled Crossrail programme has risen again.
Works on track and stations on the overground section to the west of London, carried out by Network Rail, have run another £210m over budget since an update in 2018, bringing the total cost to date to more than £17.8bn.
Grayling said the cost would be met from internal Network Rail budgets – although as it is a state-owned body, it remains in effect taxpayers’ money.
News of the confirmed cost overruns in Network Rail’s relatively small portion of Crossrail work – now more than 20% over its own allotted £2.3bn Crossrail budget – will fuel fears aired by the Public Accounts Committee that the delayed rail line could end up costing substantially more yet. Network Rail said the additional time taken to deliver the project was to blame.
In an interview with the BBC the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said that he expects Boris Johnson to make a statement to MPs on Thursday, the final day before the summer recess starts.
Corbyn also refused to say when Labour would table a vote of no confidence in Johnson’s government. Asked about this, Corbyn just said Labour would go for a no confidence vote when it was “appropriate to do so”.
This is from Ulrike Demmer, deputy spokeswoman from the German government.
Kanzlerin #Merkel zur Wahl von Boris #Johnson: Ich gratuliere Boris Johnson und freue mich auf eine gute Zusammenarbeit. Unsere Länder soll auch in Zukunft eine enge Freundschaft verbinden.
It says:
Chancellor #Merkel on the selection of Boris #Johnson: I congratulate Boris Johnson and am looking forward to good cooperation. Our countries should also be close friends in future.
Boris Johnson has now finished speaking to Tory MPs at the 1922 Committee.
Here are more tweets about what he said.
From my colleague Jessica ElgotFrom my colleague Jessica Elgot
One cabinet return which is currently being strongly lobbied is Nicky Morgan. Thinking is that Johnson needs more women and more from the One Nation wing - Morgan backed Malthouse and ticks the boxes. It’s a smorgasbord of questions at the 1922. Boris Johnson answering qs on HS2, high streets, and building more naval ships and move the Eden Project to Morecombe. “The most memorable moment was when he pledged to insert high speed broadband into every orifice,” says on MP
YouGov has published some polling showing what people think about having Boris Johnson as prime minister. MP says Boris Johnson promised there would be no election. One reporter asks “did you believe him?”Pause“No.”
It suggests he is significantly less popular than Theresa May was when she became prime minister. From the Evening Standard’s Kate Proctor
The polling also suggests that half of voters think Johnson will be poor or terrible as PM, and only one person in five thinks he will be great or good. Other pledges Boris Johnson takes to 1922* insert broadband into 'every orifice, of every home'* build more naval ships* high streets help* Brexit will be a 'towering success'
But YouGov’s Chris Curtis, in his write-up, also suggests these popularity figures may not matter too much. Here’s an extract. Importantly though Boris Johnson apparently said at 1922 'wouldn't it be be great if we came out on October 31'Hardly the categorical do or die promise he's been making.
Firstly, while his own numbers aren’t good, his opponents’ are generally worse. The 31% who have a favourable view of Johnson is higher than the 27% who have a favourable view of Nigel Farage, the 9% who have a favourable view of Jo Swinson (because most people still haven’t heard of her) and the 18% who have a favourable view of Jeremy Corbyn. Now being told Boris was very categoric about leaving EU on October 31.'it made us all feel good. We needed it.'Another said: 'it was vintage Boris'
In a head-to-head fight against the leader of the opposition over who would make the best prime minister, Boris leads Jeremy Corbyn by 34% to 20% (although they are both behind “not sure” on 42%). From the Daily Mail’s John Stevens
Secondly, whilst Boris’s overall numbers aren’t particularly positive, he does well among the key voters he needs to bring back into the Conservative fold. They key challenge to the Conservative party is to win back the third of their voters that they have lost to the Brexit party over the past few months. Boris Johnson has told Tory MPs he will not hold an early election, saying it was “not a priority”... received a “tubthumping” response
And among these voters Boris is incredibly popular, with 71% of those who say they would currently vote for Nigel Farage’s insurgent party saying they have a favourable view of him. In fact, he has about the same levels of popularity amongst Brexit party voters than amongst current Conservatives. Asked how he’ll respond to Iran crisis, Boris Johnson said he’ll build more naval ships according to an MP in the room
Finally, these numbers still have time to change before a general election takes place, and a lot depends on how he handles Brexit over the coming months. Tobias Ellwood stood up to ask Boris Johnson a question... sharp intake of breath from Tory MPs... but he asks if he will move party conference to Bournemouth
This is from Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, on Boris Johnson. From Sky’s Aubrey Allegretti
I wish Boris Johnson well as prime minister with his ‘do or die’ pledge to deliver Brexit on October 31. Exiting MP suggests Johnson refused to rule out an election imminently, only saying he insisted he “didn’t want” one.
It is ‘do or die’ not just for Brexit, but for the future of the Conservative party too. ERG’s Steve Baker on what Boris Johnson said about an early election. “Doesn’t wish to have one” “In due course”“In the fullness of time”
Does he have the courage to deliver for the country? From Politico’s Emilio Casalicchio
Moody’s, the credit rating agency, has issued a report today saying it thinks Boris Johnson’s ascent to become prime minister has made a no-deal Brexit more likely. Here is an extract from its news release. Just chased Boris Johnson out of the 1922 committee meeting. He said he felt "impatient" when asked how he felt to finally realise his dream of becoming PM.
Mr Johnson, who will replace Theresa May as prime minister this week, was a figurehead of the Vote Leave campaign in 2016 and has said he wants the UK to leave the EU by the deadline of 31 October 2019, regardless of whether the EU agrees to a revised deal. HuffPost’s Paul Waugh has a better version of the Keith Simpson quote.
“With the election of Mr Johnson, the likelihood of a sustainable compromise appears lower than before,” said Colin Ellis, Moody’s managing director for credit strategy. “Our view remains that a no-deal Brexit would have significantly negative credit effects for the UK sovereign and related issuers. Keith Simpson MP comes out of 1922 cttee "I've had enough". Says all of Boris fans were huddled in "the body of the kirk..like the ambitious little shits they are".
“Since the outcome of the Brexit referendum, Moody’s central expectation has been that the UK and the EU would reach a withdrawal agreement that preserves many of the features of current trading arrangements, particularly for goods. Although this would be credit-negative compared with staying in the EU, it would be significantly less damaging than a no-deal Brexit. Corrected quote "they were all in the body of the Kirk, trying to look as if they are not ambitious little shits".
“Although a no-deal scenario is now more likely, there is still no majority support in parliament for such an outcome.” More on Boris Johnson at the 1922 Committee.
Labour has sent an email to supporters about Boris Johnson. Here’s an excerpt. First Tory MP emerges - Kieth Simpson. He days Boris Johnson made “so many” jokes it was like “the circus had come to town”. Adds ambitious MPs hoping to be in the cabinet were huddled in the corner - “the little s***s”.
Today, Boris Johnson became leader of the Conservatives. Tomorrow, he’ll be prime minister.
How did our country sink so low? Whether you think he’s a scruffy Etonian buffoon or a cold, calculating liar, what’s clear is his terrifying support of a damaging no-deal Brexit and his stunningly out-of-touch policy of tax cuts for the wealthy. We have to stop him.
It starts with revealing the real Boris Johnson: out of touch elitist. Untrustworthy. Incompetent.
And this is what the party is saying on Twitter.
In his campaign to become leader, Boris Johnson boasted he was the biggest defender of the bankers who crashed the economy.He won’t look out for you, only himself and his super-rich friends. Share the truth about our new Prime Minister.https://t.co/0HzbZyWKfd
Jeremy Corbyn has issued this statement about Boris Johnson’s election at Tory leader and next PM.
After almost a decade of austerity, we need a prime minister on the side of the many, not the few.
Boris Johnson has won the support of fewer than 100,000 unrepresentative Conservative party members by promising tax cuts for the richest, presenting himself as the bankers’ best friend, and pushing for a damaging no-deal Brexit.
But he hasn’t won the support of our country.
Johnson’s no-deal would mean job cuts, higher prices in the shops, and risk our NHS being sold off to US corporations in a sweetheart deal with Donald Trump.
The people of our country should decide who becomes prime minister.
We need a Labour government for the many, not a Boris Johnson Conservative government for the few.
Labour is holding a rally in Parliament Square on Thursday demanding a general election. This is from Andrew Fisher, Jeremy Corbyn’s policy adviser.
Fundamentally we need a general election. Join us in Parliament Square on Thu 25 Julyhttps://t.co/SqCFs0fbA5
Rory Stewart, the international development secretary, always said he could not serve in cabinet under Boris Johnson because of Johnson’s support for a no-deal Brexit. He has posted a tweet to confirm he will resign tomorrow.
Congratulations @BorisJohnson on becoming Leader. Honour to serve in turn as Minister of Environment @DefraGovUK, Mid East +Asia @DFID_UK, Africa @FCO, Prisons @MoJGovUK + then Development Secretary in Cabinet +NSC. Backbench tomorrow serving Cumbria. Thank you all. More walking! pic.twitter.com/2PVLTaGXXR
Here is my colleague Jessica Elgot’s take on Boris Johnson’s victory speech.
Boris Johnson's victory speech: what he said and what he meant
Ivanka Trump’s original tweet congratulated Boris Johnson on becoming prime minister of the United Kingston. My colleague Patrick Wintour is disappointed.
Sadly, Ivanka Trump has deleted tweet congratulating Boris Johnson on becoming Prime Minister of the United Kingston. There was a fleeting hope that last few weeks had all been a misunderstanding & Johnson had been a candidate for a hitherto obscure municipal post in SW London.
UPDATE: Here is the original.
Big day for Kingston pic.twitter.com/JmJ8PuTbtR
This is from Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the president of Turkey.
Birleşik Krallık'ın 77. Başbakanı olan @BorisJohnson'ı tebrik ediyor, kendisine yeni görevinde başarılar diliyorum. Bu yeni dönemde Türkiye-Birleşik Krallık ilişkilerinin daha da gelişeceğine inanıyorum.
And this is how Google translates Erdoğan’s Turkish.
I congratulate @BorisJohnson, the UK’s 77th prime minister, and wish him success in his new role. I believe this develop further the Turkey-United Kingdom relations in the new era.
Erdoğan seems willing to forget Johnson’s limerick about him having sex with a goat.
By describing Johnson as the 77th prime minister, Erdoğan is using the counting system on the Downing Street website. But this is the figure for the number of times someone has been appointed PM from Sir Robert Walpole onwards, and counts some of them twice, or more than twice. A better figure would be to say Johnson will be the 55th person to serve as prime minister.
This is from Philip Hammond, who is going to resign as chancellor tomorrow because he does not want to serve under Boris Johnson. Hammond is in favour of a Brexit deal, but is strongly opposed to leaving the EU without one – a prospect Johnson is willing to contemplate.
Congratulations @BorisJohnson! You have said very clearly that you are determined to do a deal with Brussels - and you will have my wholehearted support in doing so. Good luck!