Boris Johnson has been elected new Conservative leader in a ballot of party members and will become the next UK prime minister.

He beat Jeremy Hunt comfortably, winning 92,153 votes to his rival's 46,656.

According to the BBC, the former London mayor is expected to take over from Theresa May today.

In his victory speech, Mr. Johnson promised he would "deliver Brexit, unite the country and defeat Jeremy Corbyn".

Speaking at the Queen Elizabeth II Center in London, he said: "We are going to energize the country.

"We are going to get Brexit done on October 31 and take advantage of all the opportunities it will bring with a new spirit of can do.

"We are once again going to believe in ourselves, and like some slumbering giant we are going to rise and ping off the guy ropes of self-doubt and negativity."

Senior political figures congratulated Johnson on his victory but he was also warned that difficulties lay ahead in his dealings with the EU.

The Guardian says the US president, Donald Trump, also congratulated Johnson and claimed the latter’s popularity was linked to his own.

Donald Trump praised Britain's incoming prime minister on Tuesday, saying that he is a 'good man' who 'will get [Brexit] done'.

Trump claims Boris Johnson is popular in UK because he's seen as 'Britain's Trump.'  The US president says Johnson is known as 'Britain Trump': 'They like me over there.  That's what they wanted. That's what they need.'