The deputy leader of Argyll and Bute Council is among the local Conservatives who have welcomed the election of Boris Johnson as the UK’s new Prime Minister.

Councillor Gary Mulvaney [Helensburgh Central] says he's confident that the new resident of 10 Downing Street will build a strong team to see the country through the challenges it faces.

That confidence is in stark contrast to one of the area's other Conservative councillors, who said on Tuesday that Mr Johnson is "unfit to be Prime Minister in every way possible".

Mr Johnson was confirmed in his new post on Wednesday, his victory in a ballot of party members having been announced the previous day.

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He polled nearly double the number of votes accrued by his last remaining rival, foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt.

And Councillor Mulvaney, who has represented the Conservatives on the council since 2003, thinks that positive times lie ahead.

He said: “I warmly welcome Boris Johnson’s election as Conservative Leader and Prime Minister. His sense of ‘can do’, optimism and brand of liberal conservatism is what we need today.

“Serious work awaits, not just on delivering on the democratic mandate of Brexit but beyond too and that will require a strong team which I am sure he will build.”

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Kintyre and the Islands Councillor Alastair Redman, meanwhile, was a campaign captain for Mr Johnson over recent weeks.

He said: “Boris has the ability not only to win over traditionalist voters, but to reach out to new ones. It is vitally important to have somebody who can use social media to their advantage and reach out.

“I am very happy with how the campaign has gone and I think Boris will be wonderful for the country. He will deliver Brexit, unite the party and support our union – not just between Scotland, England and Wales but with our Ulster province as well.

“I was honoured to serve a campaign captain for Boris and I can confidently say that a huge landslide majority of Conservative and Unionist party members in Argyll and Bute backed Boris in this leadership election.

“As I have said before Boris is committed to delivering the democratic will of the people to take the UK out of the restrictive and outdated EU.”

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Councillor Bobby Good [Dunoon] also congratulated Mr Johnson and highlighted some of the key issues facing him in his new role.

He said: “Congratulations to Boris Johnson, he has and incredibly challenging time ahead of him, to protect and strengthen the Union, deliver Brexit and defeat Jeremy Corbyn.

“The important one for me is defeating Corbyn. Corbyn as PM will be a disaster for the UK and will put the Union in danger.

“A Unionist to his boot laces, Boris Johnson, in my view, will deliver on these. I think he can unite the party and get us back to working on important issues like the Health Service and Education.

“Boris is exactly what the Conservative and Unionist Party needs right now and his intelligence will make him a great leader. He can restore confidence in our economy and I think there will be great opportunities ahead for the UK.

“I look forward to seeing him deliver on his promises.”

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The enthusiasm of Councillor Andrew Vennard [Oban North and Lorn] was rather less evident. He stated: “I have noted the outcome of the leadership election and the decision of our party members, and I look forward to working with our new party leader.”

Argyll and Bute’s other Conservative councillors – David Kinniburgh, Barbara Morgan, Donald Kelly and Sir Jamie McGrigor – have yet to respond to requests for comment.

Council leader Aileen Morton has also been asked for her reaction to the UK’s new Prime Minister.