This is LBC from Global, leading Britain's conversation with James O'Brien.

Three minutes after ten is the time, and you are listening to James O'Brien on LBC on what is poised to become a historic day, a new prime minister.

Well, as good as, a new leader of the Conservative Party

to be announced shortly before 12 noon, and of course that role carries with it as a sort of

buy one, get one free. The metaphorical keys to 10 Downing Street, and although there are still

two horses in the race, it's fair to say that one of them is several lengths, indeed, possibly even in the

entire course ahead of the other. If Boris Johnson is not announced as the new leader of the

Conservative Party in just under two hours' time, then I think we'd have to turn the whole thing

off and turn it on again. We'd have to reset not just British politics, but also most of the British

media. But he is a uniquely divisive character. I've been sitting behind this microphone

since before he became Mayor of London, and I must have asked you a gazillion times,

why is he such a Marmite politician? Four minutes after ten, and I speak, I get killed for this by people on the left of British politics.

I speak as someone who voted for him to be the mayor of London back in the day and then repented at leisure, as is our prerogative, particularly with regard to how we treated firefighters, as you know.

But let's park that for the time being and have a look at the road ahead rather than the road behind. James Cleverley is a minister for Brexit and, of course, the Member of Parliament for Braintree. He's also been a, I think it's fair to say, a very outspoken supporter of Boris Johnson. And therefore, presumably, James, you're rubbing your hands with glee this morning at the prospect of a Johnson premiership and a promotion for Cleverley.

Well, I'm...

Thank you. Good morning. I'm hoping that he does get the leadership of the party, and as you say,

by extension, becomes Prime Minister, because I've worked with

in London, and you know, you yourself, James, are evidence of the fact that he can reach out

to people that perhaps don't normally regard themselves as Conservative voters.

I think that's really important.

And also, through his time as Mayor of London, demonstrated, and I know,

you know, you won't agree with all of this, but demonstrated that he can run an effective,

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