UNLESS you’ve had your head in the sand for the past few hours, the United Kingdom has a new Prime Minister.

Former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was elected by Conservative members ahead of party rival Jeremy Hunt, it was revealed today.

Mr Johnson secured almost double the number of votes with 92,153 than the current Foreign Secretary, who received 46,656, to secure the leadership post.

And from the comments provided by Guardian readers, it seems the public have mixed views over the new PM’s appointment.

On Facebook, a lot of readers said they were either happy and delighted or worried and angry with the news.

A positive Brenda Massey commented: “Great result, now let's get on with leaving the EU on the date given and that he is more democratic than can be said for the MPs in Warrington.”

Conversely, Shirley Martin said: “God bless Great Britain, and all who sink on her.”

And Pauline Spencer added: “The lunatic has taken over the asylum.”

READ MORE > Boris Johnson to become Prime Minister

Jean Harrison had a more optimistic view however, stating: “Good. Now we can get on with delivering Brexit and get us out on October 31 and do what was promised so many times."

Andrew Croughan added: “If you’d of said 10 years ago that Trump would be American President and Boris Johnson would be British Prime Minister, you would have been carted off in a strait jacket -  the world is truly going insane.”

In the article comments on the Warrington Guardian website, steveG said: “Optimism might be the order of the day. Long time since Britain could say that.”

And Norton Cross also aired a popular view that the coming months ‘certainly won't be boring that's for sure’.