AS THE former mayor of London Boris Johnson steps into the breach to take over as prime minister following Teresa May’s resignation the Post spoke to people in the local area to get their reaction to the news.

Mr Johnson beat Jeremy Hunt in the race to become the next Conservative party leader with 92,153 votes to 46,656. He assumed the role of prime minister on Wednesday, July 24. Since taking to the post Mr Johnson has said he will deliver Brexit by October 31.

Speaking candidly about a future with Mr Johnson as prime minister, Sarah Bradley, owner of The Byre in Launceston, said: “We just have to hope for the best. Hope and pray. I hope more focus is given to Cornwall but I think he will focus on Brexit to start. That seems to be his only focus.

“But he spoke well this week and I hope he can get it sorted. We need to get Brexit done and out the way so we can begin to focus on the important things like housing, education, our hospitals, our NHS. We need him to get the deal then I guess we will just have to look towards picking up the pieces.”

She said it was the younger generation she worried about as they haven’t been able to form a good picture in their mind of ‘Boris the politician’ having only seen him in a comical light on television and social media. She explained: “I was talking to my 14-year-old daughter about him yesterday and she said she hasn’t formed an opinion yet because the only things teenagers her age have seen is the silliness, the crazy hair and the flamboyance. How can we inspire the younger generation if that is all they have seen from our current prime minister?

“He is an intelligent man but I worry about whether it is all an act and what message that puts across to the rest of the world. We have to give him a chance I think, because you never know, he might surprise us all!”

Richard Parish of Launceston was a bit more optimistic, believing Mr Johnson could do great things for this country if he receives the backing he needs: “We are on the cusp of a new era and things could go one of two ways. We will either be gone and out of the EU by October 31 or we will manage to muddle through. The way he talks up the country is fresh and exciting and I hope others get behind him — whether he has the capability to pull people together is yet to be seen but in his first address he talks the talk about subjects that are important like bringing manufacturing back to this country so we shall see.”

He added: “I think, ultimately, whatever your views on the guy we’ve got to give him a chance. It has been dull, dreary and grey recently but now with Boris things seem a little more vibrant with gusto! I think it could be positive.”

Although Mike Bluett, owner of Hazard!, has never had an interest in politics, he was keen to see the outcome of Mr Johnson’s claims that he can deliver Brexit by October 31.

He said: “I’ve never been into politics, we have always sat in the middle and neither government that has been in power have ever done anything to help us. But, as a business owner the most important thing is that we gain closure on Brexit, and I think Boris could do that.

“I hope that by October 31 we have left because for those of us in business, missing that deadline in the first place was very damaging — it is the uncertainty of setting a deadline and not achieving it. It affects people’s habits causing them to spend less.

“We are currently in the process of closing down so won’t be affected as business owners after this but when it comes to looking for a job in the future it will affect us.

“Ultimately Boris will have my support if he can deliver Brexit in the time frame he has set. I will admit it isn’t an easy position to fill, as it was going from Blair to Brown, he is getting into a seat with a spike on it and won’t be given time to set things right. But for now we have Boris and Trump with their matching hair, let’s see how that goes!”

Wendy Clements of Launceston held a similar standpoint, and was apprehensive about the future. She said: “I think it is just a disaster that Boris is prime minister. He is a buffoon. I’ve not got a lot of confidence in him, he knows how to play a crowd but is that what we want in a leader?

“Fingers crossed he will be able to get things sorted as I will admit he, like Theresa May, has had to take over at a rubbish time. Personally I was hoping for Jeremy Hunt as I think he’s proper and would have done the right thing.”

When asked what she would like to see from Mr Johnson, Wendy said: “I think it would be good if more focus was put on Cornwall, we need a bit of focus.”