Boris Johnson becomes UK PM, aims to win over doubters

Boris Johnson became Britain’s new prime minister Wednesday, vowing to lead the U.K. out of the European Union “after three years of unfounded self-doubt.”

Standing outside the shiny black door of 10 Downing St., Johnson derided “the doubters, the doomsters, the gloomsters” who believe he cannot succeed in breaking the Brexit impasse that defeated his predecessor, Theresa May.

“The people who bet against Britain are going to lose their shirts,” he said.

Johnson has just 99 days to make good on his promise to deliver Brexit by Oct. 31, come what may.

The former mayor of London and the foreign secretary is getting Britain’s top job in politics after winning a contest to lead the governing Conservative Party.

Famed for his bravado, quips in Latin and blond mop of hair, Johnson easily defeated Conservative rival, Jeremy Hunt, winning two-thirds of the votes of about 160,000 party members across the U.K.

He replaces May, who announced her resignation last month after Parliament repeatedly rejected the withdrawal agreement she struck with the 28-nation bloc. That has left Britain stranded in Brexit limbo as the U.K.’s departure from the EU was delayed past its long-scheduled March exit date.

Johnson took office in a day of carefully choreographed political drama that began with May attending the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions period in the House of Commons for the last time.

The usually boisterous session was subdued, with Conservative colleagues praising May’s sense of duty and opposition leaders offering best wishes while aiming their fire at her replacement. May just shook her head when Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn asked if she would help him stop “the reckless plans of her successor,” who has vowed to leave the EU if necessary without a Brexit divorce deal.

May offered Johnson slightly muted praise, saying she was pleased to hand over to a Conservative committed to “delivering on the vote of the British people in 2016 and to delivering a bright future for this country.”

And she fired back at Corbyn: “As a party leader who has accepted when her time was up, perhaps the time is now for him to do the same?”

As she left the Commons chamber, May was given a standing ovation by Conservative lawmakers, many of whom helped bring her down by rejecting her Brexit deal.

After saying goodbye to Downing Street staff, May stood outside the prime minister’s residence and spoke publicly for the last time as Britain’s leader.

With husband, Philip, by her side, May said it had been “the greatest honor” to serve as prime minister.

Reminding her successor of the risks posed by a disruptive Brexit, May said the new government’s priority must be “to complete our exit from the European Union in a way that works for the whole United Kingdom.”