Boris Johnson will ‘of course’ fight to be next Tory PM
Britain’s former foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, has revealed he will stand in any upcoming Tory leadership election when the current beleaguered leader, Theresa May, resigns the post.
Appearing as the keynote speaker at the British Insurers Conference, in Manchester on Thursday, Johnson was asked whether or not he would throw his hat in the ring when the time comes, to which he replied: “of course.”
Of course I’m going to go for it — says @BorisJohnson about the Conservative leadership speaking at @BIBAbroker in Manchester #BIBA2019pic.twitter.com/IR5AzTT3s1
— Huw Edwards (@huwbbc) May 16, 2019
Johnson’s announcement has been met with a lot of derision and dismay on social media with one Twitter user asking: “...if we cannot do better than him then it is time to give up.” Another claimed that Johnson’s bid to become leader has “lowered the bar significantly.”
God help us. If we cannot do better than him then it is time to give up.
— Dave Jameson (@jameson4_david) May 16, 2019
That's lowered the bar significantly
— European forever (@SecretSam999) May 16, 2019
And the running for May's successor as worst PM ever gets started...
— Ian Bowden (@bodz156) May 16, 2019
— Ralf (@postdienst41) May 16, 2019
Others were ostensibly of the opinion that this was a badly kept secret. @YvesdeContades likened the move to something from Titanic, saying it was “like knowing the iceberg was aiming for the Titanic in advance, despite its claims it had no intention of sinking luxury cruisers.”
Boris Johnson running for Tory leadership. What a surprise, like knowing the iceberg was aiming for the Titanic in advance, despite its claims it had no intention of sinking luxury cruisers. #borisjohnson#cockwomble#selfserving#liar#brexitscam
— Yves de Contades (@YvesdeContades) May 16, 2019
— Jon Moger (@jon_moger) May 16, 2019
It comes as the powerful Tory 1922 committee have given PM Theresa May a stay of execution to allow her to stay on as leader, at least until MPs have voted on her Brexit deal for the fourth time, scheduled for the first week of June.
A number of high profile Tories have announced their intentions to run for party leader in recent weeks. They include Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss, former Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey and International Development Secretary Rory Stewart.
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