Boris Johnson Confirmed As Next PM

There's been a mixed reaction from Northern Ireland's political leaders as Boris Johnson is unveiled as the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Mr Johnston will become the next occupant of 10 Downing Street on Wednesday after he comfortably defeated Jeremy Hunt, winning 92,513 votes over 46,656.

The former mayor will be installed by the Queen after his predecessor Theresa May officially resigns from office following her final Prime Minister's Questions.

Responding to Johnston's success, DUP leader Arlene Foster offered her congratulations in a post on Twitter. She said: "Look forward to discussing our shared objectives of strengthening the Union, delivering Brexit & restoring devolution."

The new premiere is expected to secure the confidence and supply arrangement with the DUP in the coming weeks, which secures the Conservative Party's majority government.

Mr Johnston's inaugural months as leader will be open to much scrutiny as he moves forward with his promise that the UK will leave the EU on or before the October 31 deadline.

Also congratulating the next Prime Minister, Ulster Unionist MLA Robin Swann urged him to prioritise the Stormont talks process and avoid a situation where the constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom could be risked.

The north Antrim MLA said: "There is now immense expectation as to the next steps the new Prime Minister will take and one of those must be the restoration of a functioning Northern Ireland Assembly. The Ulster Unionist Party is willing and able to work with Mr Johnson to ensure this happens but if that is unattainable in the short term, then he must move to ensure further critical decisions are taken by Westminster.

"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. I urge him not to allow nationalism in Northern Ireland or Scotland to exploit the current instability for selfish political interests. I look forward to meeting Boris Johnson soon to make those points directly."

Meanwhile, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood branded the election a worrying step towards a hard no-deal Brexit and a hard border in Ireland.

The Foyle MLA urged political representatives to resist the notion of the hard-Brexit advocated by the new PM. He said: "Johnson has coasted into Downing street on a wave of Brexit bluff and bluster. It wont 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.

"All parties in the North must now set our combined efforts to resisting the impulse of this administration to drive off the Brexit cliff edge. The fragile complexities of political and economic relationships across this island cannot be placed on the altar of British nativism. Our struggle for peace and economic normalisation has been too long and too hard to be sacrificed for this."

Green Party leader Clare Bailey said Boris Johnson has "no mandate from the people" and expressed concern at his stance on the border situation in Ireland.

She commented: "This new Prime Minister is intent on a hard Brexit. The man who compared a border on the island of Ireland to the boundary between Islington and Camden cares littles about our economic, social and political future.

"Drill down into Boris Johnson's voting record and rhetoric on environmental issues, women's rights and social mobility and we see a climate change denying, racist, misogynist."

She concluded: "The reality is that Boris Johnson has no chance of commanding a majority in a Brexit ravaged Westminster."

Meanwhile, Alliance Leader Naomi Long has said the UK needs "a statesman not a showman", in a perceived reference to Mr Johnson's vibrant and boisterous manner.

Speaking ahead of his appointment as Conservative Party leader, the MEP said: "It is now vital as he takes up the reins as Prime Minister, he demonstrates a level of leadership and seriousness which has been lacking to date. At such a critical juncture, we need someone who is detail focused and sensitive to the complexity of the challenges ahead.

"With an impending no deal Brexit and the stark choices facing us, we need substantive answers from him to what are incredibly serious and complex questions.

"To date he has failed to demonstrate any real understanding of the needs of Northern Ireland, particularly in the context of Brexit and especially in a no deal scenario - needs that require more than merely a 'can do' attitude to resolve.

"It's time to cut the bluff, bluster and bombastic rhetoric, and start to provide the kind of reassurance business and civic society needs. Whilst I remain sceptical he will do that, I wish him well and will be more than happy to be proved wrong."



(JG/MH)