Boris Johnson Is Now Prime Minister Following Meeting With The Queen

24 July 2019, 16:17 | Updated: 24 July 2019, 18:24

Boris Johnson is officially the UK's new Prime Minister after he met The Queen and agreed to form a government.

Boris Becomes PM: Full Timings For Today's Events

He succeeds Theresa May in Downing Street after his resounding win in the Tory leadership contest.

Climate change protesters attempted to block the road in front of Boris Johnson's motorcade on the way down the Mall. However, they were quickly moved out of the way by a police officer.

He then accepted the invitation from Her Majesty to form a new government. He becomes the 14th Prime Minister to serve under Queen Elizabeth II.

In his bullish speech outside Downing Street, Mr Johnson insisted the "doubters, doomsters and gloomsters" were wrong and that the UK would leave the EU on 31st October "no ifs, no buts".

He gave a promise with "absolute certainty" that the 3.2million EU nationals would be safe in the UK whatever happened with Brexit.

And he insisted that he was confident he could get a deal that would work for the UK, but was prepared to leave without a deal if that wasn't possible.

Mrs May wished him the best of luck in her final speech outside Downing Street before getting into her armoured Jaguar and travelling the short distance to Buckingham Palace.

There was one light-hearted moment in her speech. The anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray could be heard bellowing "Stop Brexit", at which point she stopped and husband Philip confirmed "That wasn't me!"

Once she leaves the Palace, she will return to her Maidenhead constituency and her replacement will make his way down The Mall.

Mr Johnson will then arrive at Downing Street, making a short address to the nation before heading inside for the first time.

At that point, he begins the task of appointing his most senior ministers.

His team says he's preparing to include a record number of women - and politicians from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Former International Development Secretary Priti Patel is reportedly set to return to the Cabinet.

And speaking to LBC, Andrea Leadsom's hinted she's keen to succeed Philip Hammond as Chancellor.

When Iain Dale asked which areas she was particularly interested in, Ms Leadsom said she "spent 25 years in finance," and "four years on the Treasury Select Committee" and "a year as City Minister."She revealed she would be "very interested in a role in the Treasury."

Before Mr Johnson gets the keys to Number 10 - Theresa May will hold her final Prime Minister's Questions.

She will then head to Buckingham Palace to formally tender her resignation, and recommend her successor is appointed.

In his victory speech yesterday, Mr Johnson said he'll "energise the country".

He said: "Like some slumbering giant, we're going to rise and ping off the guy ropes of self-doubt and negativity with better education, better infrastructure, more police, fantastic full-fibre broadband sprouting in every household.

"We are going to unite this amazing country."