Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 24 July 2019

Boris Johnson chosen as new UK leader, now faces Brexit test

By JILL LAWLESS likely to be removed as for- of British Industry, said busi- breath of fresh air. I think miership.
DANICA KIRKA eign secretary by the new nesses needed a withdraw- he’ll complete the Brexit “I would expect once he’s
Associated Press prime minister. al agreement with the EU process.” in government to begin to
LONDON (AP) — Boris John- Johnson wooed Conser- to restore confidence that More than three years af- nuance his position some-
son, Britain’s blustering Brex- vatives by promising to has been badly shaken ter Britain narrowly voted what, because he’ll now
it campaigner, was chosen be appealing to a different
as the U.K.’s next prime set of voters: that’s the U.K.
minister on Tuesday, with a electorate as a whole, not
resounding mandate from just the Conservative mem-
the Conservative Party but bers, who are much more
conflicting demands from pro-Brexit.”
a politically divided coun- The first clues to Johnson’s
try. plans are likely to come
Johnson is set to become when he begins appointing
prime minister on Wednes- his Cabinet on Wednesday
day after winning an elec- and Thursday.
tion to lead the governing British lawmakers are due
Conservatives. He will have to start a six-week summer
just over three months to break on Friday. When they
make good on his promise return in September, John-
to lead the U.K. out of the son looks set for a fight with
European Union by Oct. 31. Parliament, where most
Famed for his bravado, members oppose leaving
quips in Latin and blond the EU without a deal, and
mop of hair , Johnson eas- where the Conservative
ily defeated Conservative Party lacks an overall ma-
rival Jeremy Hunt, winning jority.
two-thirds of the votes of Several government min-
about 160,000 party mem- isters have already an-
bers across the U.K. He will nounced they will quit so
become prime minister they can resist any push for
once Queen Elizabeth II a no-deal Brexit.
formally asks him to form Newly elected leader of the Conservative party Boris Johnson arrives at Conservative party HQ in “We’ll have to see what Bo-
a government, replacing London, Tuesday, July 23, 2019. ris can muster,” said Con-
Theresa May. Associated Press servative lawmaker Mar-
The embattled May an- got James, who resigned
nounced her resignation succeed where May had by uncertainty about the to leave the EU, the coun- last week as digital minis-
last month after Parliament failed and lead the U.K. out terms of Brexit. try remains divided over ter. “The default position is
repeatedly rejected the of the EU — with or without “On Brexit, the new prime whether to leave, and on leaving without a deal, and
withdrawal agreement she a divorce deal. minister must not under- what terms. there is a significant major-
struck with the 28-nation Johnson insists he can get estimate the benefits of a Johnson won the leader- ity in Parliament who will
bloc, leaving Britain strand- the EU to renegotiate, good deal,” she said. ship contest by persuad- work very hard to be sure
ed in Brexit limbo. The U.K.’s something the bloc insists Johnson faces a host of ing Conservative members, that doesn’t happen. And
departure from the EU it won’t do. If not, he says other challenges, from who are strongly pro-Brexit, I will be among that num-
was delayed from its long Britain must leave the EU dealing with Iran’s seizure that Britain will leave the ber.”
scheduled exit in March. by the Oct. 31 deadline, of a British-flagged oil tank- bloc “do or die.” Outside the London con-
Johnson radiated optimism “come what may.” er to forging a relationship Opponents say Johnson ference center where the
in a brief victory speech to The EU is adamant that the with U.S. President Donald is reckless on Brexit and Conservative result was
hundreds of party members deal with May will stand, Trump, but Brexit is his over- unrepentant about offen- announced, pro-Brexit
and lawmakers, pledging saying Britain has to take it riding problem. sive and racist comments, and pro-EU demonstrators
to “deliver Brexit, unite the or leave it. Trump was scathing about such as calling Papua New waved rival Union Jacks
country and defeat Jeremy Michel Barnier, the bloc’s May’s inability to achieve Guineans cannibals and and EU flags — and both
Corbyn,” leader of the op- chief Brexit negotiator, a Brexit deal and has said comparing Muslim women sides had their doubts
position Labour Party. said he looked forward Johnson will do a better who wear face-covering about Johnson.
“I say to all the doubters: “to working constructively” job. veils to “letter boxes.” “In the referendum, we
‘Dude, we are going to en- with the new Conservative On Tuesday he said John- Opposition Liberal Demo- were told that our vote
ergize the country, we are leader “to facilitate the rat- son “is going to do a good crat lawmaker Chuka would be honored, and
going to get Brexit done,’” ification of the Withdrawal job” and “will get it done.” Umunna tweeted: “I can- (politicians) have spent
said Johnson, a former Lon- Agreement.” “We have a really good not think of a Tory leader- three years trying to thwart
don mayor and British for- Economists warn that a no- man is going to be prime ship candidate more unfit Brexit,” said retiree Sally
eign secretary. deal Brexit would disrupt minister of the U.K. now, Bo- to become the Prime Minis- Wright, who was not confi-
Hunt, a stolid politician trade and plunge the U.K. ris Johnson,” Trump told a ter of this country than Boris dent Johnson would deliver
compared to the flamboy- into recession . Fears that youth conference. Johnson,” adding that his where others had failed.
ant Johnson , said he was Britain is inching closer to “Good man. He’s tough election was “a dark and Anti-Brexit demonstrator
sure his rival would “do a crashing out of the bloc and he’s smart. They say depressing time for the Kasia Verissimo was equally
great job.” weighed on the pound ‘Britain Trump,’ they call U.K.” skeptical.
“He’s got optimism, en- once again Tuesday. The him Britain Trump, and Tony Travers, professor of “I think Boris Johnson is a
thusiasm, he puts a smile currency was down anoth- people say that’s a good government at the London person who will always say
on people’s face and he er 0.3 percent at $1.2450, thing.” School of Economics, said whatever gives him better
has total, unshakable con- nearly a two-year low. White House economic Johnson might moderate career choices,” she said.
fidence in our amazing Carolyn Fairbairn, direc- adviser Larry Kudlow de- his Brexit stance now that “He tells you what you want
country,” said Hunt, who is tor of the Confederation scribed Johnson as “a he has secured the pre- to hear.”q