Boris Johnson MP has received many warm congratulations on his success in the Conservative leadership election, becoming the new prime minister today.

Mr Johnson beat his rival, foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt by a margin of two to one, securing 66.4% of the membership vote. The announcement was made on Tuesday at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London, where he won 92,153 votes. Jeremy Hunt won 46,656 votes. Membership turnout for the election was high, with 87.4% of Conservative members voting in the election. 

Reacting to Boris Johnson’s election, Cllr Gary Mulvaney, Depute Leader of Argyll & Bute Council, and a Conservative councillor since 2003 said:

“I warmly welcome Boris Johnson’s election as Conservative Leader and Prime Minister.  His sense of ‘can do’, optimism and brand of liberal conservatism is what we need today. Serious work awaits, not just on delivering on the democratic mandate of Brexit but beyond too and that will require a strong team which I am sure he will build.”

Cllr Alastair Redman said “I am delighted with the election of Boris to be the leader of the Conservative and Unionist party. I was honoured to serve as a campaign captain for Boris and welcome his commitment to delivering the democratic will of the people to take the UK out of the restrictive and outdated EU.

“Boris has a proven track record of winning over many voters who have not traditionally voted Conservative and his social media campaigning is among the best in the country. It’s clear that voters from across every corner of our United Kingdom want a leader who is willing to speak their mind honestly and openly. He will always put our union first making sure that we keep not only Scotland in our UK, but also Northern Ireland as a full partner in our United Kingdom.

Cllr Bobby Good, Vice Chair Argyll & Bute Conservative & Unionist Association said:

“Congratulations to Boris Johnson. He has an incredibly challenging time ahead; to protect and strengthen the Union, deliver Brexit and defeat Jeremy Corbyn, who we never want to see him as PM.

“A unionist to his boot laces Boris Johnson in my view will deliver on these. He can unite the party and get us back to working on the important issues like the health service and education. 

“Boris is exactly what the Conservative and Unionist party needs right now. He can restore confidence in our economy and I think there are huge opportunities ahead for the UK. I look forward to seeing him deliver on his promises.

Cllr Barbara Morgan said “I think it’s great that Boris has been elected our new leader. I am looking forward to him working to deliver what the democratic will of the people was, to leave the EU . 

“His Energy, Optimism and Passion to Unite the country is what we need to see to make a success of Brexit , allowing us to move on and start dealing with the important day to day issues that are close to our hearts, the NHS, policing and supporting people where required. I believe with a strong team around him, he will be what we need at this time.”

Commenting on the positive effect of the leadership election, Cllr Andrew Vennard, Treasurer, Argyll & Bute Conservative & Unionist Association said: “I look forward to working with our new party leader who was duly elected by a growing party membership. The leadership election was very effective at engaging local members in Argyll and Bute, and in the last 5 weeks I have received more queries about memberships, and subscriptions than in the last 5 years.”

Highlands & Islands MSP Donald Cameron, said:  “I congratulate Boris Johnson on his victory. Given the challenges we currently face in Scotland and the wider UK, I hope he can now unite the country and deliver Brexit, as well as see off the threats posed by Nicola Sturgeon and Jeremy Corbyn.”

West of Scotland MSP Maurice Corry said “The Conservative Party had run a full and proper leadership contest throughout the whole of the United Kingdom to select a new leader. Every member had their own candidate as you would expect, but only one can win. Boris Johnson was an exceptionally good Mayor of London. He surrounds himself with the best team while he himself instils enthusiasm and leadership. Boris is a great lover of the United Kingdom and he believes in delivering the democratic outcome of Brexit which is extremely important for many industries in Scotland, which the SNP choose to ignore while conveniently forgetting we would have left the EU had Scotland voted to leave the UK in 2014. I wish him all the best and look forward to the energy, optimism and enthusiasm he will bring to our country and in deliver strong results in particular for Scotland.”

Congratulations were also received from the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson MSP, who said:

“I congratulate Boris Johnson on his victory and offer commiserations to Jeremy Hunt. This was a keenly fought leadership campaign and the Conservative party can be proud of the manner in which it has been conducted.

“Mr Johnson takes over the leadership at an incredibly challenging time for our country, and he has an enormous task ahead of him.

“My priority as Scottish Conservative leader is to ensure that he will deliver for Scotland within the UK, stop Nicola Sturgeon’s efforts to take us back to a second independence referendum, and prevent Jeremy Corbyn from getting to Number 10.”

Ross Thomson MP said “I'm delighted the membership have emphatically backed Boris Johnson as our new leader and Prime Minister. Boris will unite our country, strengthen our United Kingdom and fulfil our promise to the people by delivering Brexit by the 31st of October.

“With such an emphatic win it is clear that party members across the country from Aberdeen to Plymouth have backed Boris Johnson to be our new leader and Prime Minister. Boris is committed to strengthening the Union and delivering Brexit to bring our country back together.

Former Scottish Secretary David Mundell MP said “I congratulate Boris Johnson on his clear win in the leadership contest. Our party must now unite behind the new leader and Prime Minister, so we can get on with the job of delivering Brexit, whilst maintaining a strong United Kingdom

After winning the election, Boris Johnson MP made a short speech outlining his plan. 

He said, “We are going to energise the country – we are going to get Brexit done by October 31st, we’re going to take advantage of all the opportunities it will bring in a new spirit of can-do, and we are once again going to believe in ourselves and what we can achieve.

“Like some slumbering giant, we are going to rise and ping off the guy ropes of self-doubt and negativity with better education, better infrastructure, more police, and fantastic full-fibre broadband sprouting in every household. We are going to unite this amazing country and we are going to take it forward.”