UK's Next Prime Minister: Boris Johnson to take over from Theresa May on Wednesday

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In the UK, Boris Johnson has won the race to succeed Theresa May as the country's next prime minister. He has vowed to take the UK out of the European Union by October 31st with or without a trade deal. But there are fears that such a strategy could cause long-term harm to Britain's economy. CGTN's Richard Bestic reports from London.

Boris Johnson is a Premier League crowd pleaser a trait which in this bruising Brexit leadership encounter has served him well. While critics argue he's low on detail, he fuels supporters with high octane optimism.

BORIS JOHNSON INCOMING BRITISH PRIME MINISTER "We're going to get Brexit done on October 31st and we're going to take advantage of all the opportunities that it will bring in a spirit of 'can do' and we are once again going to believe in ourselves and what we can achieve and like some slumbering giant, we're going to rise and ping off the guy ropes of self doubt and negativity."

US President Donald Trump is a believer, tweeting his congratulations to Johnson and adding "he will be great".

Johnson saw off his rival UK foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt by a comfortable margin, winning twice as many votes from the Party's 160,000 members.

CHERYL GILLAN ELECTION RETURNING OFFICER "Boris Johnson is elected."

Currently, leadership of the ruling Conservatives also gives Johnson the keys to No.10 Downing Street and the job of UK Prime Minister.

But he faces daunting challenges not least in Europe where optimism could come up against the harsh reality of the EU's position on Brexit.

FRANS TIMMERMANS EUROPEAN COMMISSION FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT "The United Kingdom reached an agreement with the European Union and the European Union will stick to that agreement."

The ultra thin majority in Parliament for Johnson's Party also ensures pulling off a "no deal" Brexit would prove virtually impossible.

So, Johnson can celebrate success for now, but the UK's next Prime Minister faces daunting challenges - a divided country and Parliament and apparently limited options for a way out of the Brexit crisis.

RICHARD BESTIC LONDON "Johnson now has the luxury of selecting a Brexit government in his own image, but then fewer than 100 days before deadlines start calling and he's required to couple his Brexit optimism with some detail of how he'll achieve his goals. RICHARD BESTIC, CGTN, LONDON."