LOCAL councillors and MPs have reacted to Boris Johnson being elected as the next UK Prime Minister.

Tom Hayes, who is Oxford City Council's Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford, said: "I don’t think having him as the next Prime Minister is good for the county.

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"He’s known to lie, to create division and be prejudiced in order to get what he wants because he only cares about himself."

Mr Hayes is concerned about how Mr Johnson will ensure the environment is a priority, he said: "Theresa May on her way out said that the government would be zero carbon by 2050 and I truly hope her announcement wasn’t a PR stunt.

"I hope Mr Johnson keeps the ambition and puts meat on the bone on how to support councils to meet the climate emergency."

Councillor Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, said: "It’s a sad day for democracy and the country deserves better. I think the country deserves a general election to make our mind up about who the PM should be rather than an unrepresentative group.

"We need someone who can bring our society together not someone who will divide it."

Layla Moran, Lib Dem MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, tweeted her reaction this afternoon.

She said: "Boris Johnson's no-deal government will be disastrous for Oxfordshire and the country. His record as Foreign Secretary tells us all we need to know. A sad day."

Mr Johnson was elected by an overwhelming majority of Conservative members.

Oxford Conservative Association (OCA) has welcomed the election of Mr Johnson as the new leader of the Conservative Party and our next Prime Minister.

OCA Chairman, Daniel Stafford, said: “I am greatly encouraged that the party has given a strong and clear mandate after a contest which has shown us more united than divided.

"Oxford Conservatives look forward with confidence to Mr Johnson and his team delivering the mandate the country gave us in 2016 and 2017 and delivering the referendum fully as directed.

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Significant numbers of Oxford’s residents voted to leave the EU, and many who voted remain, accept that we need to end the current uncertainty. We call for all Conservative MPs to unite and work with Mr Johnson to deliver on the democratic will of the British people and deliver our manifesto pledge to leave the European Union.

We also look forward to the new Conservative administration rolling out measures to create a fairer Britain for everyone. In particular it is not right that Oxford’s residents suffer an appalling cost of living through a lack of affordable homes, nor is it right that many communities are trapped in long-term poverty.

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We are pleased that Mr Johnson has such close links with Oxford University and Oxfordshire generally. His positive message will surely resonate much better with the people of Oxford than the doom and gloom of Labour and the Lib Dems.

“Finally, Oxford Conservatives thanks outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May for her many years of service to the party, and to the nation. As Prime Minister and also as Home Secretary, she served with diligence and a firm commitment to public duty and we wish her well for the future.”