Boris Johnson on Tuesday won the leadership of the UK's governing Conservatives, defeating rival Jeremy Hunt in a poll of party members with a vote of 92,153 versus 46,656.

The leadership contest followed Theresa May's decision to resign last month after failing to get her Brexit deal through Parliament.

Read more: Johnson closes in on PM dream, but harsh realities await

In his speech after being declared the winner of the Conservative party leadership race, Johnson vowed to energize the UK and "get Brexit done" by the October 31 deadline.

"I say to all the doubters: Dude, we are going to energize the country, we are going to get Brexit done," Johnson said.

"It's time to deliver Brexit, unite the country and defeat Jeremy Corbyn," he told the audience.  

Johnson is expected to be officially named the country's new prime minister on Wednesday and travel to Buckingham Palace to ask Queen Elizabeth II’s permission to form a government.

Johnson, a 55-year-old Conservative Member of Parliament, was the UK's foreign secretary from 2016 to 2018 and also served two terms as London mayor. 

Johnson said he knows people will question the decision to choose him as the next PM. 

He said: "I know there will be people who will question the wisdom of your decision and there will be people here who will wonder what they have done. 

"And I would just point out that no one person, no party, has a monopoly on wisdom. 

"But if you look at the history of the 200 years of this party's history you will see it is we Conservatives – we have had the best insights into human nature." 

Several ministers said they will not serve under Johnson, warning that severing ties with Britain's closest trading partner with no new arrangements is deeply irresponsible. 

But addressing Conservative members after his win, Johnson insisted with his trademark optimism that he would find a way through the deadlock. "Like some slumbering giant we are going to rise and ping off the guy ropes of self-doubt and negativity," he said.

World congratulates Johnson on election win

U.S. President Donald Trump congratulated Johnson on his victory in the race to become Britain's new prime minister. "Congratulations to Boris Johnson on becoming the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He will be great!" Trump tweeted. 

European Union chiefs said Tuesday they want to work with Johnson to ratify the Brexit withdrawal deal signed by his predecessor.  

"We look forward to working constructively with PM Boris Johnson when he takes office, to facilitate the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement and achieve an orderly Brexit," EU negotiator Michel Barnier tweeted immediately after Johnson was confirmed as leader of Britain's Conservative Party and hence incoming prime minister. 

 

Iran's foreign minister congratulated Johnson for winning the race to become the next British prime minister, while warning Britain that his country will "protect" Gulf waters.  

"I congratulate my former counterpart, @BorisJohnson on becoming UK PM," Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted amid a standoff between the two countries over the seizure of oil tankers.  

"Iran does not seek confrontation. But we have 1,500 miles of Persian Gulf coastline. These are our waters & we will protect them," Iran's top diplomat wrote. 

Britain's main opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corby said Johnson hasn't won the support of the country.

"Boris Johnson has won the support of fewer than 100,000 unrepresentative Conservative Party members by promising tax cuts for the richest, presenting himself as the bankers' friend, and pushing for a damaging No Deal Brexit. 

But he hasn't won the support of our country," Corbyn tweeted.

Hunt also sent out his congratulations on Twitter, saying "Congratulations @BorisJohnson 4 a campaign well fought. You 'll be a great PM for our country at this critical moment! Throughout campaign you showed optimism, energy & unbounded confidence in our wonderful country & we need that. All best wishes from the entrepreneur :-)"

"I congratulate Boris Johnson and I will call him when he is officially prime minister," French President Macron said. 

"I want very much to work with him as quickly as possible and not just on European subjects and the continuation of negotiations linked to Brexit, but also on international issues on which we coordinate closely with Britain and Germany... like the situation in Iran." 

(With input from agencies)