Boris Johnson wins race to be prime minister - and Cambridge’s Labour MP finds it ‘deeply concerning’

Boris Johnson has been elected as the new leader of the Conservative Party and will become prime minister tomorrow (Wednesday).

He defeated Jeremy Hunt by 92,153 votes to 46,656.

Cambridge’s Labour MP Daniel Zeichner MP immediately expressed his alarm and called for a general election

He said: “I’m deeply concerned that Boris Johnson is becoming Britain’s next prime minister. I certainly don’t share his values and I know Cambridge people don’t either. Just look at his record including comparing Muslim women to letterboxes.

“Britain now has a man in the top job with a loose grip on the facts - claiming he had voted in local elections when there were none, unclear on whether he has taken cocaine, and writing lies on the side of a bus. He is playing fast and loose with our future prosperity and the very fabric of the United Kingdom with his dangerous rhetoric on no-deal.

“He is a man who insults our allies and diminishes Britain's role in the world and whose words have serious consequences - most keenly felt by Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

“Maybe the past is not an indicator of the future and he certainly has a chance to reach out in the next few days. His first test will be who he decides to put in his Cabinet. I hope he chooses wisely but I fear it will be filled with the hard-right likes of Jacob Rees Mogg, David Davis and Priti Patel.

“This is not what people voted for. It is clear we need a general election so the people can decide who they want as prime minister.”

Read more

Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner demands general election as Theresa May resigns as PM

David Cameron 'rudest prime minister', politeness conference hears