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| Boris Johnson on Verge of Taking Over in U.K. | Boris Johnson on Verge of Taking Over in U.K. |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| By Megan Specia | By Megan Specia |
| LONDON — Boris Johnson, an ardent supporter of Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union, was poised to take over as prime minister from Theresa May and select a new cabinet on Wednesday, a day after his easy victory to lead the Conservative Party. | LONDON — Boris Johnson, an ardent supporter of Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union, was poised to take over as prime minister from Theresa May and select a new cabinet on Wednesday, a day after his easy victory to lead the Conservative Party. |
| The former foreign secretary and two-term mayor of London, Mr. Johnson is a polarizing figure, known for over-the-top displays and a charismatic bluster that have connected with many voters but alienated others. | The former foreign secretary and two-term mayor of London, Mr. Johnson is a polarizing figure, known for over-the-top displays and a charismatic bluster that have connected with many voters but alienated others. |
| Mr. Johnson was among the most high-profile backers of Brexit, as the withdrawal is commonly known, and on Tuesday he made clear that he will push for Britain to leave by the deadline of Oct. 31 even if there is no deal in place. | Mr. Johnson was among the most high-profile backers of Brexit, as the withdrawal is commonly known, and on Tuesday he made clear that he will push for Britain to leave by the deadline of Oct. 31 even if there is no deal in place. |
| He has described Britain’s departure as a matter of “do or die,” but opponents of a no-deal departure — which includes a majority of Parliament and some members of his own party — have warned that it could have ruinous effects on the British economy, and lead to shortages of food and medicine. | He has described Britain’s departure as a matter of “do or die,” but opponents of a no-deal departure — which includes a majority of Parliament and some members of his own party — have warned that it could have ruinous effects on the British economy, and lead to shortages of food and medicine. |
| Mrs. May, who congratulated Mr. Johnson on Tuesday afternoon, will appear in Parliament for her final session of questions on Wednesday, before returning to the official residence at 10 Downing Street to say goodbye to staff and make a short, final statement as leader. | Mrs. May, who congratulated Mr. Johnson on Tuesday afternoon, will appear in Parliament for her final session of questions on Wednesday, before returning to the official residence at 10 Downing Street to say goodbye to staff and make a short, final statement as leader. |
| Later in the day, Mrs. May and Mr. Johnson will each visit Buckingham Palace to meet with Queen Elizabeth II and receive her formal assent to the transition. Mrs. May will officially tender her resignation, and Mr. Johnson will be invited by the queen to form a new government. | Later in the day, Mrs. May and Mr. Johnson will each visit Buckingham Palace to meet with Queen Elizabeth II and receive her formal assent to the transition. Mrs. May will officially tender her resignation, and Mr. Johnson will be invited by the queen to form a new government. |
| Mr. Johnson, who will be the 14th prime minister to serve during the queen’s rule, is expected to make his first speech outside 10 Downing Street before entering the residence for the first time. He is also expected to begin announcing members of his cabinet. | Mr. Johnson, who will be the 14th prime minister to serve during the queen’s rule, is expected to make his first speech outside 10 Downing Street before entering the residence for the first time. He is also expected to begin announcing members of his cabinet. |
| [Read more on Boris Johnson’s chaotic personal life.] | |
| A handful of Conservatives who served in the previous government have resigned already, signaling they had no intention of serving under Mr. Johnson’s leadership. | A handful of Conservatives who served in the previous government have resigned already, signaling they had no intention of serving under Mr. Johnson’s leadership. |
| Alan Duncan, the second-ranking official in the foreign office, resigned on Monday, while Anne Milton, the education minister, announced her resignation on Tuesday shortly before Mr. Johnson’s victory in the party leadership race was announced. | Alan Duncan, the second-ranking official in the foreign office, resigned on Monday, while Anne Milton, the education minister, announced her resignation on Tuesday shortly before Mr. Johnson’s victory in the party leadership race was announced. |
| Other prominent figures, including Philip Hammond, the chancellor of the Exchequer, David Gauke, the justice minister, and Rory Stewart, the international development secretary, have said that they would not serve in a government led by Mr. Johnson because of concerns about his willingness to leave Britain without a deal. | Other prominent figures, including Philip Hammond, the chancellor of the Exchequer, David Gauke, the justice minister, and Rory Stewart, the international development secretary, have said that they would not serve in a government led by Mr. Johnson because of concerns about his willingness to leave Britain without a deal. |
| Mr. Johnson won 66 percent of the votes cast by registered party members, defeating Jeremy Hunt, his rival for the Conservative leadership and his successort as foreign secretary, by a comfortable margin. | Mr. Johnson won 66 percent of the votes cast by registered party members, defeating Jeremy Hunt, his rival for the Conservative leadership and his successort as foreign secretary, by a comfortable margin. |
| But he will face deep challenges as he takes the helm, with Brexit looming large and tensions with Iran bubbling into a potential crisis. He also faces other problems: His Conservative Party does not have an outright majority in Parliament, and although he was elected overwhelmingly in a postal vote by dues-paying members of the party, they represented just a tiny fraction of overall British voters, so the extent of his mandate is unclear. | But he will face deep challenges as he takes the helm, with Brexit looming large and tensions with Iran bubbling into a potential crisis. He also faces other problems: His Conservative Party does not have an outright majority in Parliament, and although he was elected overwhelmingly in a postal vote by dues-paying members of the party, they represented just a tiny fraction of overall British voters, so the extent of his mandate is unclear. |
| During a brief speech to members of his party after the results were announced on Tuesday, Mr. Johnson, who quit Mrs. May’s cabinet because of objections to her Brexit policy, vowed that Britain would leave the European Union by the current autumn deadline. | During a brief speech to members of his party after the results were announced on Tuesday, Mr. Johnson, who quit Mrs. May’s cabinet because of objections to her Brexit policy, vowed that Britain would leave the European Union by the current autumn deadline. |
| “We’re going to get Brexit done on Oct. 31,” he said. “We’re going to take advantage of all the opportunities that it will bring in a new spirit of can-do, and we’re once again going to believe in ourselves.” | “We’re going to get Brexit done on Oct. 31,” he said. “We’re going to take advantage of all the opportunities that it will bring in a new spirit of can-do, and we’re once again going to believe in ourselves.” |
| Tensions in the Persian Gulf will also demand attention. Last week, Iran announced it had seized a British tanker in the Persian Gulf, raising the stakes in a simmering conflict with the West. Earlier this month, the British Navy seized an Iranian vessel near Gibraltar on suspicion of violating a European Union embargo on the sale of oil to Syria. | Tensions in the Persian Gulf will also demand attention. Last week, Iran announced it had seized a British tanker in the Persian Gulf, raising the stakes in a simmering conflict with the West. Earlier this month, the British Navy seized an Iranian vessel near Gibraltar on suspicion of violating a European Union embargo on the sale of oil to Syria. |