BORIS Johnson will become Prime Minister on Wednesday after securing victory in the battle for the Conservative Party leadership.

The former foreign secretary, who was the firm favourite to win the contest, defeated Jeremy Hunt in the ballot of Tory members.

He will be appointed as prime minister on Wednesday by the Queen after Theresa May formally resigns from the office.

Mr Johnson secured 92,153 of the vote compared to 46,656 for Mr Hunt to win the Tory leadership.

Mrs May will take one last round of Prime Minister's Question in the Commons on Wednesday before travelling to Buckingham Palace to offer her resignation.

Mr Johnson will then have his own audience with the Queen to be offered the chance to form her new government before entering Downing Street.

He faces a daunting in-tray at Number 10, including keeping his "do or die" promise to meet the looming Brexit deadline of October 31.

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Boris Johnson speaks after being announced as the new Conservative party leader and next Prime Minister. Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

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

He added: "We are going to energise the country.

"We are going to get Brexit done on 31 October 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."

Almost 160,000 Conservative members were eligible to vote and turnout was 87.4%.

Mr Johnson's share of the vote - 66.4% - was slightly lower than David Cameron in the 2005 Tory leadership election (67.6%).

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Jeremy Hunt congratulates Boris Johnson after he was announced as the new Conservative party leader and the next Prime Minister. Credit: Stefan Rousseau/P/A Wire

The incoming premier has been left in no doubt about the opposition he will face from his own benches if he attempts to force through a no-deal Brexit.

Sir Alan Duncan quit as a Foreign Office minister on Monday and Anne Milton as Education minister on Tuesday, rather than serve under Mr Johnson.

Cabinet ministers Philip Hammond, David Gauke and Rory Stewart are expected to join them on the backbenches after the leadership change.