24
Jul
UK’s next PM: Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson officially became Prime Minister of the UK after an audience with the Queen later this afternoon. Yesterday he defeated his Tory rival, Jeremy Hunt, after securing the majority of votes in a ballot of party members. Now 55, the former Foreign Secretary and former Mayor of London can form his Cabinet and deliver Brexit by 31 October, with 99 days to make good on his promise.
It feels like a political déjà vu watching Margaret Thatcher’s favourite political columnist step into the top job. Boris Johnson was the favourite to become PM back in 2016, when David Cameron resigned in the wake of the Brexit vote — but he was smoothly replaced by Michael Gove, who effectively laid the red carpet for Teresa May towards 10 Downing Street. Watching her, victory over Al Gore by George W. Bush in 2001 came to mind as well. Still, three years later is better than never.
Born Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson on 19 June 1964 in a posh, residential Upper East Side neighbourhood of Manhattan, New York City, Johnson first made his name as a newspaper journalist (The Times, The Daily Telegraph) and editor (Spectator magazine, 1999–2005). He then served as a Member of Parliament (2001–2008, 2015–present), as Mayor of London (2008–2016), and as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (2016–2018).
When Boris Johnson moves into 10 Downing Street this weekend, his girlfriend Carrie Symonds is expected to join him. As British Prime Ministers have only been joined by their wives or husbands in the past, Carrie will be the first live-in girlfriend at No. 10. She has kept a low profile since their relationship became public last year. Looking marvellous in a red floral summer dress by Ghost, Carrie made an unusual appearance outside 10 Downing Street today when Boris gave his first speech.
Boris Johnson is the 14th person to enter 10 Downing Street during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. He will fill the shoes of Sir Winston Churchill (1951–1955), who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom when Elizabeth became Queen, following the line of Sir Anthony Eden (1955–1957), Harold Macmillan (1957–1963), Sir Alec Douglas-Home (1963–1964), Harold Wilson (1964–1970, 1974–1976), Edward Heath (1970–1974), James Callaghan (1976–1979), Margaret Thatcher (1979–1990), Sir John Major (1990–1997), Tony Blair (1997–2007), Gordon Brown (2007–2010), David Cameron (2010–2016), and Theresa May (2016–2019).
In a time of political uncertainty, with the Brexit countdown having been rescheduled for March, a miracle cannot be expected. A step forward would be enough. Only time will tell whether the new Prime Minister can steer clear of the continental obstacles in the way of achieving his goal of making Britain free and independent again. All the best, sir!
