Boris Johnson appointed Britain’s foreign minister

Ex-London mayor and ‘Leave’ campaign leader in Brexit referendum surprisingly named UK’s top diplomat by new PM Theresa May

Newly appointed Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson waves as he leaves 10 Downing Street in central London on July 13, 2016 after new British Prime Minister Theresa May took office. (AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFF)
Newly appointed Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson waves as he leaves 10 Downing Street in central London on July 13, 2016 after new British Prime Minister Theresa May took office. (AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFF)

LONDON — Boris Johnson, the former London mayor and “Leave” campaign figurehead in Britain’s EU referendum, was appointed foreign secretary on Wednesday in new Prime Minister Theresa May’s government.

In a surprise announcement, Johnson, who had been seemingly cast into the political wilderness after the June 23 referendum, was handed a task that will inevitably be dominated by handling Britain’s departure from the European Union following last month’s vote to leave.

Johnson, considered by many to be a strong supporter of Israel’s right-wing government, had been widely expected to stand for the leadership of the governing Conservative Party after “Remain” campaign leader David Cameron announced his resignation as prime minister in the wake of the referendum.

Johnson had been the bookmakers’ favorite to become prime minister.

Britain's new Prime Minister Theresa May waves beside her husband Philip John (R) outside 10 Downing Street in central London on July 13, 2016 on the day she takes office following the formal resignation of David Cameron. (AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFF)
Britain’s new Prime Minister Theresa May waves beside her husband Philip John (R) outside 10 Downing Street in central London on July 13, 2016 on the day she takes office following the formal resignation of David Cameron. (AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFF)

However, his running mate Michael Gove decided to stand for the job himself and Johnson swiftly pulled out in a shock statement that had been expected to announce his candidacy.

It is the first role in government for Johnson, who was London’s mayor from 2008 to 2016, a spell that included overseeing the 2012 Olympic Games.

The appointment amounts to a remarkable comeback for the mop-haired 52-year-old, whose career was thought to have crashed and burned after what was seen as a political assassination by Gove.

Johnson was the second appointment in May’s new government, after she shifted Philip Hammond from the Foreign Office post to become Britain’s new finance minister.

“The queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Boris Johnson MP as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs,” Downing Street said in a statement.

On leaving the prime minister’s Downing Street office, Johnson immediately got into a ministerial car and went to speak to staff at the Foreign Office.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report

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