OXFORD, England — Boris Johnson launched his campaign to become the next British prime minister with a promise to leave the European Union by the end of October and a warning to MPs that they face “mortal retribution” if they attempt to block Brexit.
Theresa May stepped down as leader of the Conservative Party on Friday, a casualty of the intense political infighting triggered by the 2016 vote to leave the E.U.
Johnson, 54, the Eton- and Oxford-educated former foreign secretary and front-runner to succeed her, said he would lead Britain out of the bloc with or without a deal.
With his populist style, Brexit leadership, tousled hair, and chaotic private life, Johnson has been described as the British Trump. The American president said during his recent U.K. visit that he was a fan of Johnson, saying: “I know Boris. I like him, I’ve liked him for a long time. I think he would do a very good job.
Announcing his campaign, Johnson told a packed meeting in London: “I think maturity and a sense of duty will prevail. I think it will be very difficult for friends in Parliament to obstruct the will of the people and simply to block Brexit.
“I think if we now block it, collectively as parliamentarians we will reap the whirlwind and we will face mortal retribution from the electorate,” he said.
Three years after the referendum, the U.K. appears no closer to finding a route out of Europe. May was brought down by her inability to steer an exit agreement through parliament, pushing back a departure date from March to October.
She will stay on in No. 10 until a new Conservative leader can replace her as prime minister.
For his part, Johnson argues that he is best placed to fulfill the referendum vote and save the Conservative Party from defeat in a general election to Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party.
“We will simply not get a result if we give the impression that we want to go on kicking the can down the road and yet more delay,” he said. “Delay means defeat, delay means ruin, kick the can again and we kick the bucket.”
Johnson’s jocular style is hugely popular with grassroots party members, but senior figures frequently express concern about his character flaws and a relaxed way with facts.
MPs will hold their first ballot on Thursday as they whittle the 10 candidates down to two names. The wider party membership will then select their new leader from those two names.
