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Johnson is a controversial figure in British politics. His supporters have praised him for being humorous, witty and entertaining, with an appeal that reaches beyond traditional Conservative Party voters, viewing him as an electoral asset to the party. During his premiership, his supporters lauded him for "getting Brexit done", overseeing the UK's COVID-19 vaccination programme, which was amongst the fastest in the world, and being one of the first world leaders to offerhumanitarian and military support to Ukraine, following the Russian invasion of the country. Conversely, his critics have accused him of lying,elitism,cronyism andbigotry. His tenure also encompassed several controversies and scandals, and is viewed as the most scandalous premiership of modern times by historians and biographers alike.
Ashdown House preparatory school, East Sussex, attended by Johnson from 1975 to 1977
The family returned to the UK in 1969, and lived at West Nethercote Farm inWinsford,Somerset, Stanley's family home inExmoor.[14] His father was regularly absent, leaving Johnson to be raised largely by his mother, assisted byau pairs.[15] As a child, Johnson was quiet, studious,[10] and deaf, resulting in several operations to insertgrommets into his ears.[16] He and his siblings were encouraged to engage in intellectual activities from a young age.[17] Johnson's earliest recorded ambition was to be "world king".[18] Having no other friends, the siblings became very close.[19]
In late 1969, the family moved toMaida Vale in west London, while Stanley began post-graduate research at theLondon School of Economics.[20] In 1970 Charlotte and the children briefly returned to Nethercote, where Johnson attended Winsford Village School, before returning to London to settle inPrimrose Hill,[21] where they were educated at Primrose Hill Primary School.[22] A fourth child,Joseph, was born in late 1971.[23]
After Stanley secured employment at theEuropean Commission in April 1973, he moved his family toUccle, Brussels, where Johnson attended theEuropean School, Brussels I and learnt to speak French.[24][25] Charlotte had anervous breakdown and was hospitalised with depression, after which Johnson and his siblings were sent back to the UK in 1975 to attendAshdown House, a preparatory boarding school in East Sussex.[26] There, he developed interests inrugby,Ancient Greek, andLatin.[27] In December 1978 his parents' relationship broke down; they divorced in 1980,[28] and Charlotte moved toNotting Hill, London, where her children joined her for much of their time.[29]
Eton and Oxford: 1977–1987
As a kid I was extremely spotty, extremely nerdy and horriblyswotty. My idea of a really good time was to travel across London on the tube to visit theBritish Museum.
Johnson gained aKing's Scholarship to study atEton College, a boarding school nearWindsor, Berkshire.[31] Arriving in the autumn term of 1977,[32] he began going by his middle name Boris,[33] and developed "the eccentric English persona" for which he became famous.[34] He denounced Catholicism and joined theChurch of England.[35] School reports complained about his idleness, complacency, and lateness,[36] but he was popular at Eton.[34]
Johnson's friends were largely from the wealthy upper classes; his best friends wereDarius Guppy andCharles Spencer. Both would go on to accompany him at theUniversity of Oxford and remained his friends into adulthood.[37] Johnson excelled inEnglish and theClassics, winning prizes in both,[38] and became secretary of the schooldebating society[39] and editor of the school newspaper.[40] In late 1981 he became a member ofPop,[41] a small, self-selecting elite group of school prefects. After leaving Eton, Johnson went on agap year to Australia, where he taught English and Latin atTimbertop, anOutward Bound-inspired campus ofGeelong Grammar, an independent boarding school.[42][43][44]
In the summer of 1984 Boris Johnson and his sister Rachel volunteered atKibbutzKfar HaNassi in northernIsrael, where they stayed with an Israeli family originally fromLeeds.[53]
Johnson was popular and well known at Oxford.[54] Alongside Guppy, he edited the university's satirical magazineTributary.[55] In 1984, Johnson was elected secretary of theOxford Union,[56] and campaigned unsuccessfully for the position ofUnion President.[57] In 1986, Johnson ran successfully for president,[58] but his term was not distinguished or memorable,[59] and questions were raised regarding his competence and seriousness.[60] At graduation, Johnson was awarded anupper second-class degree,[61][62] and was deeply unhappy he did not receive a first.[63]
Early career
The Times andThe Daily Telegraph: 1987–1994
In September 1987, Johnson and Mostyn-Owen married.[64] They settled inWest Kensington, London.[65] In late 1987, through family connections, he began work as a graduate trainee atThe Times.[66] Scandal erupted when Johnson wrote an article for the newspaper on the archaeological discovery ofEdward II's palace, having invented a quote which he falsely attributed to the historianColin Lucas, his godfather. After the paper's editor,Charles Wilson, learnt of the matter, he dismissed Johnson.[67]
Johnson secured employment on the lead-writing desk ofThe Daily Telegraph, having met its editor,Max Hastings, while at university.[68] His articles appealed to the newspaper's Conservative-voting "Middle England" readership,[69] and he was known for his distinctive literary style, replete with old-fashioned phrasing and for regularly referring to the readership as "my friends".[70] In early 1989, Johnson was appointed to the newspaper's Brussels bureau to report on the European Commission,[71] remaining in the post until 1994.[72] A strong critic of the integrationist Commission presidentJacques Delors, he established himself as one of the city's fewEurosceptic journalists.[73] He wrote articles abouteuromyths: that Brussels had recruited sniffer dogs to ensure that all manure smelt the same,[74] they were about to dictate the acceptable curve of British bananas,[b] limit the power of their vacuum cleaners[76][c] and order women to return their old sex toys.[74] He wrote that euro notes made people impotent and that a plan to blow up theBerlaymont building was in place because asbestos cladding made the building too dangerous to inhabit.[74] Many of his fellow journalists were critical of his articles, saying they often contained lies designed to discredit the commission.[79] The Europhile Conservative politicianChris Patten later said that Johnson was "one of the greatest exponents of fake journalism".[72] Johnson opposed banning handguns after theDunblane school massacre, writing in his column "Nanny is confiscating their toys. It is like one of those vastIndian programmes of compulsory vasectomy."[80]
According toSonia Purnell, one of Johnson's biographers and his Brussels deputy,[72] he helped make Euroscepticism "an attractive and emotionally resonant cause for the Right", whereas it had been associated previously with the Left.[81] Johnson's articles exacerbated tensions between the Conservative Party's Eurosceptic and Europhile factions. As a result, he earned the mistrust of many party members.[82] His writings were also a key influence on the emergence of the euroscepticUK Independence Party (UKIP) in the early 1990s.[81]Conrad Black, then proprietor ofThe Daily Telegraph, said Johnson "was such an effective correspondent for us in Brussels that he greatly influenced British opinion on this country's relations with Europe".[83]
In February 1990 Johnson's wife Allegra broke up with him; after several attempts at reconciliation, their marriage ended in April 1993.[84][85] He began a relationship with childhood friendMarina Wheeler, who had moved to Brussels in 1990.[86] They were married in May 1993.[87] Soon after, Marina gave birth to a daughter.[88] Johnson and his new wife settled inIslington, north London,[89] an area known for its association with the left-liberalintelligentsia. Under the influence of thismilieu and of his wife, Johnson moved in a more liberal direction on issues such asclimate change,LGBT rights and race relations.[90] While in Islington, the couple had three more children, all given the surname Johnson-Wheeler.[91] They were sent to the local Canonbury Primary School and then to private secondary schools.[92] Devoting much time to his children, Johnson wrote a book of verse,The Perils of the Pushy Parents: A Cautionary Tale, which was published to largely poor reviews.[93]
Political columnist: 1994–1999
Back in London, Hastings turned down Johnson's request to become awar reporter,[94] instead promoting him to assistant editor and chief political columnist.[95] Johnson's column received praise for being ideologically eclectic and distinctively written, and earned him Commentator of the Year Award at theWhat the Papers Say awards.[96] Some critics condemned his writing style as bigotry; in columns he used the words "piccaninnies" and "watermelon smiles" when referring to Africans, championed European colonialism in Uganda[97][98][99] and referred to gay men as "tank-topped bumboys".[100]
In 1993, Johnson outlined his desire to run as a Conservative in the1994 European Parliament elections.Andrew Mitchell convinced Major not to veto Johnson's candidacy, but Johnson could not find a constituency.[101] He turned his attention to obtaining a seat in the House of Commons instead. After being rejected as Conservative candidate forHolborn and St. Pancras, he was selected the Conservative candidate forClwyd South in north Wales, then aLabour Partysafe seat. Spending six weeks campaigning, he attained 9,091 votes (23 per cent) in the1997 general election, losing to Labour candidateMartyn Jones.[102]
Scandal erupted in June 1995 when a recording of a 1990 telephone conversation between Johnson and his friendDarius Guppy was made public.[103] In it, Guppy said that his criminal activities involving insurance fraud were being investigated byNews of the World journalist Stuart Collier, and he asked Johnson to provide him with Collier's private address, seeking to have the latter beaten. Johnson agreed, although he expressed concern that he would be associated with the attack.[103] When the phone conversation was published, Johnson stated that ultimately he had not obliged Guppy's request. Hastings reprimanded Johnson but did not dismiss him.[103]
Johnson was given a regular column inThe Spectator, sister publication toThe Daily Telegraph, which attracted mixed reviews and was often thought rushed.[104] In 1999, he was also given a column reviewing new cars in the American men's monthly magazineGQ.[105] The large number of parking fines that Johnson acquired while testing cars frustrated staff.[100] AtThe Daily Telegraph andThe Spectator, he was consistently late delivering copy, forcing staff to stay late to accommodate him; some related that if they published without his work, he would shout at them with expletives.[106]
In July 1999, Conrad Black offered Johnson the editorship ofThe Spectator on the condition he abandon his parliamentary aspirations; Johnson agreed.[111] While retainingThe Spectator's traditional right-wing bent, Johnson welcomed contributions from leftist writers and cartoonists.[112] Under Johnson's editorship, the magazine's circulation grew by 10% to 62,000 and it became profitable.[113] His editorship also drew criticism; some opined that under himThe Spectator avoided serious issues,[114] while colleagues became annoyed that he was regularly absent from the office, meetings, and events.[115] He gained a reputation as a poor political pundit because of incorrect political predictions.[114] His father-in-lawCharles Wheeler and others strongly criticised him for allowingSpectator columnistTaki Theodoracopulos to publish racist and antisemitic language.[116][117] Journalist Charlotte Edwardes wrote inThe Times in 2019 that Johnson had squeezed her thigh at a private lunch at theSpectator in 1999 and that another woman had told her he had done the same to her. A spokesman denied the allegation.[118][119]
In 2003, Johnson alongsideNicholas Burgess Farrell had a three-hour interview with then Italian Prime MinisterSilvio Berlusconi in his private palace inSardinia. When excerpts were published inThe Spectator and Italian newspapers, they caused a controversy that almost led to an institutional crisis due to Berlusconi's controversial statements about among othersBenito Mussolini and theItalian judiciary.[120][121] In 2004, Johnson published an editorial inThe Spectator after the murder ofKen Bigley suggesting that Liverpudlians were wallowing in their victim status and "hooked on grief" over theHillsborough disaster, which Johnson partly blamed on "drunken fans".[122][123] In an appendix added to a later edition of his 2005 bookThe Dream of Rome,Tell MAMA and theMuslim Council of Britain criticised Johnson for arguingIslam has caused theMuslim world to be "literally centuries behind" the West.[124]
Becoming an MP
The selection of Boris Johnson ... confirms the Tory Party's increasing weakness for celebrity personalities over the dreary exigencies of politics. Johnson, for all his gifts, is unlikely to grace any future Tory cabinet. Indeed, he is not known for his excessive interest in serious policy matters, and it is hard to see him grubbing away at administrative detail as an obscure, hardworking junior minister for social security. To maintain his funny man reputation he will no doubt find himself refining hisBertie Wooster interpretation to the point where the impersonation becomes the man.
FollowingMichael Heseltine's retirement, Johnson decided to stand as Conservative candidate forHenley, a Conservative safe seat inOxfordshire.[126] The local Conservative branch selected him although it was split over Johnson's candidacy. Some thought him amusing and charming while others disliked his flippant attitude and perceived lack of knowledge of the local area.[127] Assisted by his television fame, Johnson won the seat in the2001 general election.[128] Alongside his Islington home, Johnson bought a farmhouse outsideThame in his new constituency.[129] He regularly attended Henley social events and occasionally wrote for theHenley Standard.[130] His constituency surgeries proved popular, and he joined local campaigns to stop the closure ofTownlands Hospital and the localair ambulance.[131]
In Parliament, Johnson was appointed to astanding committee assessing theProceeds of Crime Bill, but missed many of its meetings.[132] Despite his credentials as a public speaker, his speeches in the House of Commons were widely deemed lacklustre.[133] He attended around half of Commons votes,[134] usually supporting the Conservativeparty line.[135] Infree votes, he demonstrated a more socially liberal attitude, supporting theGender Recognition Act 2004 and the repeal ofSection 28.[136][137] In 2001 Johnson had spoken out against plans to repeal Section 28, saying it was "Labour's appalling agenda, encouraging the teaching of homosexuality in schools".[138][139] After initially stating he would not, hesupported the government's plans to join the United States in the2003 invasion of Iraq,[129] and in April 2003 visited occupied Baghdad.[140] In August 2004, he backed unsuccessfulimpeachment procedures against Prime MinisterTony Blair for "high crimes and misdemeanours" regarding the war,[141] and in December 2006 described the invasion as "a colossal mistake and misadventure".[142]
Although labelling Johnson "ineffably duplicitous" for breaking his promise not to become an MP, Black decided not to dismiss him because he "helped promote the magazine and raise its circulation".[143] Johnson remained editor ofThe Spectator, while also writing columns forThe Daily Telegraph andGQ, and making television appearances.[144] His 2001 book,Friends, Voters, Countrymen: Jottings on the Stump, recounted that year's election campaign,[145] while 2003'sLend Me Your Ears collected previously published columns and articles.[146] In 2004,HarperCollins published his first novel:Seventy-Two Virgins: A Comedy of Errors revolved around the life of a Conservative MP and contained autobiographical elements.[147] Responding to criticism that he was juggling too many jobs, he citedWinston Churchill andBenjamin Disraeli as exemplars who combined political and literary careers.[148] To manage stress, he took up jogging and cycling,[149] and became so well known for the latter thatAndrew Gimson suggested he was "perhaps the most famous cyclist in Britain".[150]
FollowingWilliam Hague's resignation as Conservative leader, the party electedIain Duncan Smith.[151] Johnson had a strained relationship with Duncan Smith, andThe Spectator became critical of his party leadership.[152] Duncan Smith was succeeded byMichael Howard in November 2003; Howard deemed Johnson to be the most popular Conservative politician with the electorate and appointed him vice-chairman of the party, responsible for overseeing its electoral campaign.[153] In his Shadow Cabinet reshuffle of May 2004, Howard appointed Johnson as shadow arts minister.[154] In October, Howard ordered Johnson to apologise publicly inLiverpool for publishing aSpectator article – anonymously written bySimon Heffer – which said the crowds at theHillsborough disaster had contributed to the incident and that Liverpudlians had a predilection for reliance on thewelfare state.[155][156]
In November 2004, the tabloids revealed that since 2000 Johnson had been having an affair withSpectator columnistPetronella Wyatt, resulting in two abortions.[157] Johnson denied the allegations but they were subsequently proven to be true, and Howard dismissed him as vice-chairman and shadow arts minister when he refused to resign.[158][159][160]
Second term
As shadow minister for higher education, Johnson visited various universities (as here at theUniversity of Nottingham in 2006).Johnson in 2007
At the2005 general election, Johnson was re-elected MP for Henley.[161] Labour won the election and Howard stood down as Conservative leader; Johnson backedDavid Cameron as his successor.[162] After Cameron was elected, he appointed Johnson as the shadow higher education minister.[163] Interested in streamlining university funding,[164] Johnson supported Labour'sproposed top-up fees.[165] He campaigned in 2006 to become theRector of the University of Edinburgh, but his support for top-up fees damaged his campaign, and he came third.[166][167]
In April 2006, theNews of the World alleged that Johnson was having an affair with journalist Anna Fazackerley; the pair did not comment, and shortly afterwards Johnson began employing Fazackerley.[168][169] In September 2006, Papua New Guinea'sHigh Commission protested after he compared the Conservatives' frequently changing leadership tocannibalism in the country.[170]
In 2005,The Spectator's new chief executive,Andrew Neil, dismissed Johnson as editor.[171] To make up for this loss of income, Johnson negotiated withThe Daily Telegraph to raise his salary from £200,000 to £250,000, averaging £5,000 per column.[172][173] He presented apopular history television show,The Dream of Rome, which was broadcast in January 2006; a book followed in February.[174] A sequel,After Rome, focused on early Islamic history.[175] In 2007 he earned £540,000, making him the third-highest-earning MP that year.[176]
In September, Johnson was selected as the Conservative candidate forMayor of London after a public London-wideprimary.[177][178] Johnson's campaign focused on reducing youth crime, making public transport safer, and replacing thearticulated buses with an updated version of theAEC Routemaster.[179] Targeting the Conservative-leaning suburbs ofouter London, it capitalised on perceptions that the Labour Mayoralty had neglected them in favour ofinner London.[180] His campaign emphasised his popularity, even among those who opposed his policies,[181] with opponents complaining a common attitude among voters was: "I'm voting for Boris because he is a laugh."[179] The campaign of Labour incumbentKen Livingstone portrayed Johnson as an out-of-touchtoff and bigot.[182]
In the election, Johnson received 43% and Livingstone 37% of first-preference votes; when second-preference votes were added, Johnson was victorious with 53% to Livingstone's 47%.[183][184] Johnson subsequently announced his intention to stand down as MP for Henley.[185][186]
First term: 2008–2012
After Johnson became mayor, those in City Hall deemed too closely allied to Livingstone's administration had their employment terminated.[187] Johnson appointedTim Parker as his deputy mayor, but after Parker began taking increasing control at City Hall, Johnson dismissed him.[188] Many in the Conservative Party initially distanced themselves from Johnson's administration, fearing it would be damaging for the2010 general election.[189]
During the campaign, Johnson had confided toBrian Paddick he was unsure how he would maintain his lifestyle on the mayoral salary of £140,000 a year.[190] He agreed to continue hisDaily Telegraph column, thus earning a further £250,000 a year.[191] His team believed this would cause controversy and made him promise to donate 20% of hisDaily Telegraph salary to a charitable cause. Johnson resented this, and ultimately did not pay the full 20%.[192] Controversy erupted when on theBBC'sHARDtalk he referred to the £250,000 salary as "chicken feed"; this was at the time approximately 10 times the average yearly wage for a British worker.[193][194][195]
Johnson at the opening of NASDAQ in 2009
During his first administration, Johnson was embroiled in several personal scandals. After moving to a new house in Islington, he built a shed without obtainingplanning permission; after neighbours complained, he dismantled it.[196] The press also accused him of having an affair with Helen Macintyre and of fathering her child, allegations that he did not deny.[197][198][199][200] Johnson was accused of warningDamian Green that police were planning to arrest him; Johnson denied the claims.[201] He was accused ofcronyism,[202] in particular for appointingVeronica Wadley as the chair of London'sArts Council.[203][204][205] In theparliamentary expenses scandal, he was accused of excessive expenses claims for taxis.[206]Johnson remained a popular figure in London with a strong celebrity status in the city.[207]
Policies
TheNew Routemaster bus introduced by Johnson's administration
Johnson made no major changes to the mayoral system of the previous administration.[208] However, he did reverse several other measures implemented by Livingstone: ending the city's oil deal with Venezuela, abolishingThe Londoner newsletter, and scrapping the half-yearly inspections ofblack cabs, which was reinstated three years later.[209] Abolishing the western wing of thecongestion charging zone,[210] he cancelled plans to increase the congestion charge forfour-wheel-drive vehicles.[211] He was subsequently accused of failing to publish an independent report on air pollution commissioned by theGreater London Authority, which revealed the city breached legal limits onnitrogen dioxide levels.[212][213]
Johnson retained Livingstone projects such asCrossrail and the2012 Olympic Games, but was accused of trying to take credit for them.[214] He introduced a public bicycle scheme that had been mooted by Livingstone's administration; colloquially known as "Boris Bikes", the part privately financed system was a significant financial loss but proved popular.[215][216] Despite Johnson's support of cycling, and his much-publicised identity as a cyclist, some cycling groups argued he had failed to make the city's roads safer for cyclists.[217] As per his election pledge, he commissioned the development of theNew Routemaster buses for central London.[218] He also ordered the construction of acable car system that crossed theRiver Thames between theGreenwich Peninsula and theRoyal Docks.[219]
Johnson implemented Livingstone's idea of a public bicycle system; the result was dubbed the"Boris Bike".
Johnson's first policy initiative was a ban on drinking alcohol on public transport.[220][221] He announced plans to extend pay-as-you-goOyster cards to national rail services in London.[222] A pledge in Johnson's manifesto was to retain Tube ticket offices, in opposition to Livingstone's proposal to close up to 40.[223] On 2 July 2008, the Mayor's office announced the closure plan was to be abandoned.[224] On 21 November 2013,Transport for London announced that all London Underground ticket offices would close by 2015.[225] In financing these projects, Johnson's administration borrowed £100 million,[226] while public transport fares were increased by 50%.[227]
During his first term, Johnson was perceived as having moved leftward on certain issues, supporting theLondon Living Wage and endorsing an amnesty for illegal migrants.[228] He tried placating critics who had deemed him a bigot by appearing atLondon's gay pride parade and praising ethnic minority newspapers.[229] Johnson broke from the traditional protocol of those in public office not publicly commenting on other nations' elections by endorsingBarack Obama for the2008 United States presidential election.[230][231]
Relations with the police, finance, and the media
Johnson's response to the 2011 London riots was criticised.
Johnson appointed himself chair of theMetropolitan Police Authority (MPA), and in October 2008 successfully pushed for the resignation of Metropolitan Police CommissionerIan Blair, after Blair was criticised for allegedly handing contracts to friends and for his handling of thedeath of Jean Charles de Menezes.[232][233][234] This earned Johnson respect among Conservatives, who interpreted it as his first act of strength.[235] Johnson resigned as chairman of the MPA in January 2010,[228] but throughout his mayoralty was highly supportive of the Metropolitan Police, particularly during the controversy surrounding thedeath of Ian Tomlinson.[236] Overall crime in London fell during his administration, but his claim that serious youth crime had decreased proved to be false, and he acknowledged the error.[237][238] He was criticised for his response to the2011 London riots.[239]
Johnson lights the flame at the 2010London Youth Games opening ceremony.
Johnson championed London's financial sector and denounced what he saw as "banker bashing" following the2008 financial crisis,[240] condemning theanti-capitalistOccupy London movement that appeared in 2011.[241] He collected donations from the city's wealthy for a charitable enterprise, the Mayor's Fund, which he had established to aid disadvantaged youths. It initially announced the fund would raise £100 million, but by 2010 it had only earnt £1.5 million.[242] He also maintained extensive personal contacts throughout the British media,[243] which resulted in widespread favourable press coverage of his administration.[243] In turn he remained largely supportive of his friends in the media, includingRupert Murdoch, during theNews International phone hacking scandal.[244]
The formation of the Forensic Audit Panel was announced on 8 May 2008. The panel was tasked with monitoring and investigating financial management at theLondon Development Agency and theGreater London Authority.[245] Johnson's announcement was criticised by Labour for the perceived politicisation of this nominally independent panel.[246] The head of the panel,Patience Wheatcroft, was married to a Conservative councillor[247] and three of the four remaining panel members also had close links to the Conservatives.[248][249]
Re-election campaign
Up for re-election in 2012, Johnson again hired Crosby to orchestrate his campaign.[250]Before the election, Johnson publishedJohnson's Life of London, a work of popular history that historianA. N. Wilson characterised as a "coded plea" for votes.[251]Polls suggested that while Livingstone's approach to transport was preferred, voters in London placed greater trust in Johnson on crime and the economy.[252] Johnson's campaign emphasised the accusation that Livingstone was guilty oftax evasion, for which Livingstone called Johnson a "bare-faced liar".[253] Political scientist Andrew Crines believed that Livingstone's campaign focused on criticising Johnson rather than presenting an alternate and progressive vision of London's future.[254] Johnson wasre-elected.[255]
After a successful bid under Livingstone in 2005, London hosted the2012 Summer Olympics, with Johnson as board co-chair.[256] He improved transportation around London by making more tickets available and adding buses around the capital when thousands of spectators were temporary visitors.[257][258] Johnson was accused of covering up pollution ahead of the games by deploying dust suppressants to remove air particulates near monitoring stations.[212] In November 2013, Johnson announced major changes to the operation of theLondon Underground, including the extension of operating hours. All staffed ticket offices were replaced with automated ticketing systems.[259][260]
Johnson was close friends with American entrepreneur[261] and modelJennifer Arcuri, withThe Sunday Times describing him as a regular visitor to her flat,[262] and implying they were in a sexual relationship.[263] Arcuri and her company, Innotech, were awarded substantial government grants, and Johnson intervened to allow her onto three trade mission trips.[264]The Sunday Times said in September 2019 that Johnson failed to declare his personal relationship as a conflict of interest.[265] The Greater London Authority referred the matter to theIndependent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) "so it can assess whether or not it is necessary to investigate the former mayor of London for the criminal offence of misconduct in public office", for the Mayor is also London'spolice and crime commissioner.[266] On 9 November 2019 it was revealed that the IOPC had decided to publish its report after the general election on 12 December.[267] The IOPC eventually issued its report in May 2020, concluding that, although there was no basis for any criminal charge, there was evidence that the close relationship between Johnson and Arcuri had influenced decisions, that Johnson should have declared an interest, and that his failure to do this could have breached the London Assembly's code of conduct.[268]
In 2015, Johnson criticised then-presidential candidateDonald Trump's false comments that there wereno-go zones in London inaccessible for non-Muslims. Johnson said Trump was "betraying a quite stupefying ignorance that makes him frankly unfit to hold the office of President of the United States",[269] becoming the first senior politician in the UK to declare Trump unfit for office, but rejecting calls for him to be banned from the country.[270] In 2016, he said he was "genuinely worried that [Trump] could become president", telling ITV'sTom Bradby that being mistaken for Trump in New York was "one of the worst moments" of his life.[271]
Johnson did not run for a third mayoral and stepped down on 5 May 2016 followingthe election. AYouGov poll commissioned at the end of Johnson's term revealed that 52% of Londoners believed he did a "good job" while 29% believed he did a "bad job".[272]
Return to Parliament
Johnson initially said that he would not return to the House of Commons while mayor.[207] After much media speculation, in August 2014 he sought selection as the Conservative candidate for thesafe seat ofUxbridge and South Ruislip at the2015 general election.[273][274][275] In the2015 general election, Johnson was elected. There was speculation that he had returned to Parliament because he wanted to replace Cameron as Conservative leader and prime minister.[276]
In February 2016, Johnson endorsedVote Leave in the "Out" campaign for the2016 European Union membership referendum.[277] Following this announcement, which was interpreted by financial markets as making Brexit more probable, thepound sterling slumped by nearly 2% against the US dollar, reaching its lowest level since March 2009.[278]
In April 2016, in response to a comment by PresidentBarack Obama that Britain should remain in the European Union, Johnson wrote an "ancestral dislike" of Britain owing to his "part-Kenyan" background may have shaped Obama's views.[279] Several politicians condemned his comments as racist and unacceptable.[280][281][282] Conversely, former Conservative Party leaderIain Duncan Smith andUK Independence Party (UKIP) leaderNigel Farage defended them.[280][283]
Johnson supported Vote Leave's statement that the government was committed toTurkish accession to the EU. Vote Leave was accused of implying that 80 million Turks would come to the UK if it stayed in the EU. When interviewed in January 2019, he said he had not mentioned Turkey during the campaign.[284][285] In a televised debate on 22 June 2016, Johnson declared 23 June could be "Britain's independence day".[286] According toJames Murdoch, Johnson did not believe the Brexit referendum would pass and when, during a meeting between him and other executives ofFox News, he was asked its potential result he replied "We'll see".[287]
Following the victory of the "Leave" campaign, Cameron resigned. Johnson was widely regarded as the front-runner to succeed him.[288][289] Johnson announced he would not stand in theConservative leadership election.[290] Shortly before this, Michael Gove, hitherto a Johnson ally, concluded that Johnson "cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead".[291][292]The Daily Telegraph called Gove's comments "the most spectacular political assassination in a generation".[293] Johnson endorsedAndrea Leadsom's candidature, but she dropped out, leaving Theresa May to be elected uncontested.[294]
May appointed Johnsonforeign secretary in July 2016.[295] Analysts saw it as a tactic to weaken Johnson politically: the new positions of "Brexit secretary" andinternational trade secretary left the foreign secretary as a figurehead.[295][296] Johnson's appointment ensured he would often be out of the country and unable to mobilise backbenchers against her, while forcing him to take responsibility for problems caused by withdrawing from the EU.[297][298]
Some journalists and foreign politicians criticised Johnson's appointment because of his controversial statements about other countries.[299][300][301] His tenure attracted criticism from diplomats and foreign policy experts.[302][303] Several diplomats, FCO staff and foreign ministers who worked with Johnson compared his leadership unfavourably to previous foreign secretaries for his perceived lack of conviction or substantive positions.[302][303] A senior official in Obama's government suggested Johnson's appointment would push the US further towardsGermany at the expense of theSpecial Relationship with the UK.[304] Egyptian presidentAbdel Fattah el-Sisi walked out of a meeting with Johnson after it did not "get beyond the pleasantries".[302]
Johnson's visit to Turkey in September 2016 was tense because he had wonDouglas Murray's offensive poetry competition about the President of Turkey,Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, four months earlier.[305] When questioned by a journalist whether he would apologise, Johnson dismissed the matter as "trivia".[306] Johnson pledged to helpTurkey join the EU and expressed support for Erdogan's government.[307] Johnson described theGülen movement as a "cult" and supportedTurkey's post-coup purges.[308]Johnson supported theSaudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen and refused to block arms sales to Saudi Arabia.[309][310] In September 2016, human rights groups accused him of blocking the UN inquiry into Saudi war crimes in Yemen.[311] Given the UK-Saudi alliance, in December 2016, he attracted attention for commenting the Saudis were akin to the Iranians in "puppeteering and playingproxy wars".[312][313][314] In 2017, Johnson told theForeign Affairs Select Committee thatNazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe – a British-Iranian citizen imprisoned in Iran after being arrested for training journalists in aBBC World Service Trust project – had been "simply teaching people journalism". Facing criticism, Johnson stated he had been misquoted and nothing he said had justified Zaghari-Ratcliffe's sentence.[315][316] In 2018, Johnson backed[317][318] theIran nuclear deal framework, despite Trump's withdrawal.[319]
In 2017, Johnson said thatGibraltar's sovereignty was "not going to change" after Brexit.[320] Johnson promised while inNorthern Ireland that Brexit would leave the Irish border "absolutely unchanged".[321] Johnson visitedAnguilla andTortola in September 2017 to confirm the UK's commitment to helping restoreBritish territories devastated byHurricane Irma.[322]In September 2017, he was criticised for reciting lines fromRudyard Kipling'sMandalay while visiting aMyanmar temple; the British ambassador, who was with him, suggested it was "not appropriate".[323][324][325] In October 2017, he faced criticism for stating the Libyan city ofSirte could become an economic success likeDubai: "all they have to do is clear the dead bodies away".[326][327]
Johnson meeting with Iranian foreign ministerMohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran in December 2017
In a September 2017 op-ed, Johnson reiterated the UK would regain control of £350m a week after Brexit, suggesting it go to theNational Health Service (NHS).[340] Cabinet colleagues criticised him for reviving the assertion.[341][342] Following the2017 general election, Johnson denied media reports he intended to challenge May's leadership.[343] In a February 2018 letter to May, Johnson suggested that Northern Ireland may have to accept border controls after Brexit, and it would not seriously affect trade, having said a hard border would be unthinkable.[344] In June, he was reported to have said "fuck business" when asked about corporate concerns regarding a 'hard' Brexit.[345][346][347][348]
Johnson with former UK prime ministerGordon Brown in May 2018
Secret recordings obtained in June 2018 revealed Johnson's dissatisfaction with Prime Minister May's negotiating style, accusing her of being too collaborative with the EU in Brexit negotiations. Comparing May's approach to Trump – who at the time was engaged in a combative trade war with the EU because it raised tariffs on metal – Johnson said: "Imagine Trump doing Brexit. He'd go in bloody hard ... There'd be all sorts of breakdowns, all sorts of chaos. Everyone would think he'd gone mad. But actually you might get somewhere." He accused individuals of scaremongering over a Brexit "meltdown", saying "No panic.Pro bono publico, no bloody panic. It's going to be all right in the end."[349]
In April 2018, Johnson travelled to Italy to attend a party at thePalazzo Terranova, owned by formerKGB agentAlexander Lebedev and hosted by his sonEvgeny. He travelled without security protection or other officials,[350] and did not document the trip, which led to accusations of Johnson having misled parliament.[351] In 2023, it was revealed that Lord Simon McDonald, the most senior civil servant of his department, was unaware of the trip. Johnson stated that "no government business was discussed" at the event as far as he was aware.[352][353] Lebedev's villa was monitored by the Italian secret service, who suspected it to be used for espionage activities.[354] Johnson granted a peerage toEvgeny in 2020, against the advice of theMI6, and met with criticism over security concerns.[355][356][357]
Johnson returned to the role of abackbench MP. In July, he delivered a resignation speech, stating "it is not too late to save Brexit".[361] In January 2019, Johnson came under criticism for remarks he had made during the 2016 Leave campaign regarding the prospect of Turkish accession to the European Union; he denied making such remarks.[362] In March 2019, he was criticized for saying that expenditure on investigating historic allegations of child abuse was money "spaffed up the wall".[363][364]
In September 2018, Johnson wrote: "We have opened ourselves to perpetual political blackmail. We have wrapped a suicide vest around the British constitution – and handed the detonator toMichel Barnier." Senior Tories heavily criticised him, withAlan Duncan of the Foreign Office vowing to ensure the comments marked "the political end of Boris Johnson".[368][369] In April 2019, theIndependent Press Standards Organisation ruled that a claim in a 6 January 2019 article inThe Daily Telegraph, "The British people won't be scared into backing a woeful Brexit deal nobody voted for", authored by Johnson,[370] that a no-dealBrexit was "by some margin preferred by the British public" was false, and "represented a failure to take care over the accuracy of the article in breach of Clause 1 (i)" of its guidelines, and required that a correction be published.[371]
The logo used by Johnson's leadership campaign in 2019
On 12 June 2019, Johnson launched his campaign for theConservative Party leadership election, saying, "we must leave the EU on 31 October."[372] On the campaign trail, Johnson warned of "catastrophic consequences for voter trust in politics" if the government pushed the EU for further delays. He advocated removing thebackstop from any Brexit deal. On 25 and 26 August, he announced plans to retain £7 or £9 billion of the £39 billion divorce payment the UK is due to transfer to the EU upon withdrawal.[373][374] Johnson initially pledged to cut income tax for earners of more than £50,000 but backed away from this plan in June 2019 after coming under criticism in a televisedBBC debate.[375]
Johnson was elected leader with 92,153 votes (66%) to Hunt's 46,656 (34%).[376]
On 24 July 2019, the day following Johnson's election as Conservative Party leader, QueenElizabeth II acceptedTheresa May's resignation and appointed Johnson as prime minister. This made Johnson the first prime minister to be born outsideBritish territories.[377] Johnson appointedDominic Cummings as his senior advisor.[378]
Brexit policy
Johnson discussing Brexit with French presidentEmmanuel Macron in ParisJohnson signing the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement
In hisfirst speech as PM, Johnson said that the United Kingdom would leave the European Union on 31 October 2019 with orwithout a deal, and promised to remove theIrish backstop from the withdrawal agreement.[379][380] Johnson declared his intention tore-open negotiations, but talks did not immediately resume as the EU refused to accept Johnson's condition that the backstop be removed.[381] On 28 August 2019, UK and EU negotiators agreed to resume regular meetings.[382]
Also on 28 August 2019, Johnson declared he had asked the Queen toprorogue Parliament from 10 September, reducing the time in which Parliament could block a no-deal Brexit and causing apolitical controversy.[383] The Queen atPrivy Council approved prorogation later the same day, and it began on 10 September, scheduled to last until 14 October.[384] Some suggested[385] that this prorogation amounted to aself-coup, and on 31 August 2019, protests occurred throughout the United Kingdom.[386][387] By 2 September 2019, three separate court cases challenging Johnson's action were in progress or scheduled to take place,[388] and on 11 September, three Scottish judges ruled the prorogation of the UK Parliament to be unlawful.[389][390] On 12 September, Johnson denied lying to the Queen over suspension of the Parliament, while a Belfast Court rejected claims that his Brexit plans would have a negative impact on Northern Ireland's peace policy.[391] On 24 September, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Johnson's advice to prorogue Parliament was unlawful, and therefore the prorogation was rendered null.[392][393]
When Parliament resumed on 3 September 2019, Johnson indicated he would call a general election under theFixed-term Parliaments Act after opposition and rebel Conservative MPs successfully voted against the government to take control of the order of business to prevent a no-deal exit.[394] Despite government opposition, theBenn Act, a bill to block a no-deal exit, passed the Commons on 4 September 2019, causing Johnson to propose a general election on 15 October.[395] His motion was unsuccessful as it failed to command the support of two-thirds of the House.[396]
Johnson holding his first cabinet meeting at10 Downing Street, 25 July 2019
Johnsonappointed hisCabinet on 24 July 2019,[399] dismissing 11 senior ministers and accepting the resignation of six others.[400][401] The mass dismissal was the most extensive postwar Cabinet reorganisation without a change in the ruling party.[402][403]
On 5 September 2019, Johnson's brotherJo Johnson resigned from the government and announced that he would step down as MP, describing his position as "torn between family and national interest".[407] Two days later,Amber Rudd resigned asSecretary of State for Work and Pensions and from the Conservative Party, describing the withdrawal of the party whip as an "assault on decency and democracy".[408]
In October 2019, Parliament was dissolved, and an election called for 12 December. The election resulted in the Conservative Party winning 43.6% of the vote and a parliamentary landslide majority of 80 seats.[409] A key slogan used in the Conservative campaign was "Get Brexit Done".[410]
Johnson delivering a press conference onCOVID-19, 31 July 2020
TheCOVID-19 pandemic emerged as a serious crisis within the first few months of Johnson's second term.[416] Johnson's non-attendance of fiveCOBR briefings during the early months and the failure of the UK government to prepare for and control the outbreak has been criticised.[417][418][419] The UK was among the last major[clarification needed] European states to close schools, ban public events and order alockdown.[420][421] This response is thought by some scientists to have contributed to the UK's high death toll from COVID-19, which as of January 2021[update] was among the highest in the world.[422][needs update]
Reuters reported that scientists were critical of Johnson both for acting too slowly to stop the spread of COVID-19 and for mishandling the government's response;[423]Politico quotedChief Medical OfficerChris Whitty as saying that an earlier initial lockdown would have significantly lowered the death toll.[424] TheBMJ published several editorials critical of the policies adopted during the country's public health response.[425][426] Johnson's public communication over the virus and the UK's test and trace system were also criticised.[423][427][428]
On 3 March 2020 Johnson claimed to have shaken hands with COVID-19 patients in hospital on the same day thatSAGE had advised the government to warn the public not to shake hands and minimise physical contact,[429][430] though it was unclear whether the hospital he visited actually contained any coronavirus patients.[431] He continued to shake hands publicly in the following days.[432] On 23 March, aCOVID-19 lockdown was imposed throughout the UK, except for a few limited purposes, backed up bynew legal powers.[433]
Johnson giving a speech in April 2020 after recovering fromCOVID-19
On 27 March, it was announced that Johnson had tested positive forCOVID-19.[434] On 5 April, he was admitted to a hospital.[435] The next day, he was moved to the hospital's intensive care unit.[436][437] Johnson left intensive care on 9 April,[438] and left hospital three days later to recuperate atChequers.[439] After a fortnight at Chequers, he returned to Downing Street on 26 April.[440] Johnson later said that he had been givenemergency oxygen while in intensive care, and that doctors had made preparations in case he died.[441]
Ascandal in May 2020 involved Johnson's chief political advisorDominic Cummings, who made a trip with his family toDurham during the March 2020 lockdown while experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Both Cummings and Johnson rejected widespread calls that Cummings resign.[442][443][444] Johnson's defence of Cummings and his refusal to sack him caused a widespread backlash.[445] This resulted in a loss of confidence in the government and specifically its response to the pandemic, referred to as 'the Cummings effect' inThe Lancet. Concerns were raised in the study that this could affect the public's compliance with pandemic restrictions.[446][447]
The Johnson ministry wasaccused of cronyism in their assignment of contracts related to the pandemic response. Procurement of government contracts for key COVID-19 supplies became less transparent as a result of emergency measures bypassing the usual competitive tendering process.[448][449] In October 2020 Johnson conceded that the UK'stest and trace system and its specially developedcontact tracing app, which had been criticised for their cost and operational issues, had caused "frustrations".[423][450][451]
Johnson hosts virtual G7 meeting in February 2021.
Johnson reportedly resisted calls from SAGE and within the government to enact a second lockdown throughout September as COVID-19 infections rose.[452][453] In April 2021 Johnson denied allegations he had said he would rather "let the bodies pile high in their thousands" on 30 October 2020.[454][455][456] The government enacted a second national lockdown on 31 October.[457] Throughout December 2020 COVID-19 cases across the UK rose significantly, straining emergency services and hospitals.[458][459] In response, the government enacted further restrictions to large parts of southern and eastern England and on 21 December shortened a planned household mixing period over Christmas.[460]
Britain beganits COVID-19 vaccination programme in December 2020.[461] Half of UK adults had received at least their first vaccine dose by 20 March 2021.[462] A third lockdown for the whole of England was introduced on 6 January 2021.[463] Record numbers of infections and daily deaths were recorded in the UK throughout January, and the government began exploring quarantine procedures on arrival.[464] Johnson said he was "deeply sorry" and "take[s] full responsibility" as the UK passed 100,000 deaths from COVID-19, the first European country to do so, on 26 January.[465]
Johnson with US presidentJoe Biden at theG7 summit in Cornwall, 10 June 2021
In July 2021 Johnson announced that most generalised public health restrictions in England would be lifted and replaced by recommendations. This took place despite an increase in cases driven by theDelta variant.[466][467] In September 2021 Johnson was pictured in a cabinet meeting, with "at least 30 people crammed shoulder-to-shoulder", without anyone wearing masks and with all windows apparently closed, contradicting government advice.[468] Johnson was also photographed without a face mask during a visit to a hospital in November.[469]
In December 2021 more stringent "Plan B" restrictions for England were put forward, a partial renewal of previous measures due to the increased incidence of theSARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. These proposals included face coverings to be required in more public settings, guidance towork from home wherever possible, and requirements ofCOVID-19 passports to enter certain venues.[470] The government experienced the largest rebellion of Conservative MPs during Johnson's premiership, in opposition to these measures.[471][472]
In 2019, Johnson promised to reduce net migration to the United Kingdom (the number of people immigrating minus the number emigrating) below 250,000 per year by the next election.[473] In 2021 net migration to the UK was 488,000,[474][475] up from 184,000 in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.[476] Most of the migrants came from non-EU countries. As a result of Brexit, more EU nationals left the UK than arrived.[475]
In April 2021 Cummings alleged that Johnson had arranged for donors to "secretly pay" for renovations on the private residence at 11 Downing Street.[482] On 27 April Johnson asked the Cabinet Secretary,Simon Case, to hold a review about the refurbishment.[483] On 28 April, theElectoral Commission announced it had opened a formal investigation.[484][485] On the same day Johnson said that he had not broken any laws over the refurbishment and had met the requirements he was obliged to meet.[486] DuringPrime Minister's Questions, the leader of the opposition,Keir Starmer, asked: "Whoinitially paid for the redecoration of his Downing Street flat?"; Johnson responded: "I paid for Downing Street's refurbishment personally."[487]
On 28 MayLord Geidt published a report on the allegations which concluded that Johnson did not breach the Ministerial Code and that no conflict, or reasonably perceived conflict, of interest arose. However, Lord Geidt expressed that it was "unwise" for Johnson to have proceeded without "more rigorous regard for how this would be funded".[488][489] The Electoral Commission reported on 9 December that it found that the Conservative Party had failed to follow the law in not accurately reporting donations to the party from Lord Brownlow and imposed a £17,800 fine on the party.[490][491]The Herald said the commission's report outlined how, in March, all the money paid by Brownlow and his company had been reimbursed, as had the payments made by the Conservative Party and Cabinet Office.[491] Downing Street had said at the time that the full cost of the works had been met personally by the prime minister.[491]
In November 2021 Johnson backed a motion to block the suspension ofOwen Paterson, a Conservative MP found to have abused his position by theindependent standards commissioner after undertaking paid lobbying.[492] The motion called for the creation of a new Conservative-majority committee to examine reforms of the standards investigation process.[493] Many Conservative MPs refused to support the motion, and 13 defied athree-line whip to vote against it.[494] Following the announcement by opposition parties that they would boycott the new committee, and faced with a backlash in the media and from MPs of all parties, the government announced that a new vote would take place on whether Paterson should be suspended.[495] Paterson announced his resignation as an MP the same day.[496] Aby-election in Paterson's former constituency ofNorth Shropshire saw theLiberal Democrat candidate,Helen Morgan, overturn a Conservative majority of nearly 23,000,[497] theseventh largest swing in United Kingdom by-election history.[498]
Downing Street, where some of the gatherings took place[499]
In December 2021 reports emerged thatsocial gatherings of government and Conservative Party staff in Downing Street had taken place ahead of Christmas 2020 against COVID-19 regulations. Johnson denied these allegations.[500][501] Following a leaked video showing Downing Street staff joking about a "fictional party", at a press conference rehearsal recorded days after one alleged party took place, Johnson apologised for the contents of the video and suggested he had been misled but had now ordered an inquiry.[502][503]
On 10 January 2022,ITV News reported that a planned party had taken place on 20 May 2020, during the first lockdown. ITV had obtained an email sent by principal private secretaryMartin Reynolds to staff inviting them to "socially distanced drinks" in the garden of No. 10.[504] At the time, people outdoors were not allowed to meet more than one person from outside their household.[505] Two eyewitnesses later alleged that Johnson and Symonds attended, contradicting Johnson's insistence in December 2021 that there were "no parties".[506][504]
On 12 January, Johnson apologised to MPs in the Commons for "attending an event in the Downing Street garden during the first lockdown",[507][508] stating he believed it was "a work event".[509] He said that MPs should await the outcome of the independent inquiry, led by senior civil servantSue Gray, which he said "will report as soon as possible".[510] There were calls across the House for Johnson to resign.[510][511] One week later, Conservative former ministerDavid Davis called for Johnson to resign, quotingLeo Amery calling onNeville Chamberlain to resign during theNorway Debate in 1940, and saying: "You have sat there too long for all the good you have done. In the name of God, go."[512][513][514]
On 25 January, theMetropolitan Police announced that they were commencing investigations into the Downing Street Parties.[515] An abbreviated version of theSue Gray report into the controversy was released on 31 January, where Gray concluded there was a "failure of leadership" over the events that she had examined. The release of the full report was delayed pending the Metropolitan Police's investigation.[516]
In April 2022, Johnson was issued afixed penalty notice as police determined that he committed a criminal offence by breaching the COVID-19 lockdown regulations.[517][518] Johnson therefore became the first prime minister in British history to have been sanctioned for breaking the law while in office.[519]
According to Downing Street insiders, Johnson was involved in instigating a party on the occasion ofLee Cain leaving Number 10. What had begun as press office drinks became a party after Johnson arrived, gave a speech and poured drinks for staff.Labour's deputy leader,Angela Rayner said, "If the latest reports are true, it would mean that not only did the prime minister attend parties, but he had a hand in instigating at least one of them. He has deliberately misled the British people at every turn. The prime minister has demeaned his office."[520][521][522][523] On 21 April, MPs voted to refer Johnson to theParliamentary Privileges Committee to investigate whether he knowingly misled Parliament.[524]Steve Baker said Johnson's "marvellous contrition... only lasted as long as it took to get out of the headmaster's study".[525]
Following theMay 2022 local elections, many leading Conservatives in areas where the Conservatives had done badly blamed Johnson and calling on Johnson to resign.[526] On 6 June,Graham Brady announced that the threshold for a vote on Johnson's leadership had been passed; the vote was scheduled for later that same day.[527]
On 3 March 2023, an interim report from theCommons Select Committee of Privileges said there was evidence that "strongly suggests" breaches of coronavirus regulations would have been "obvious" to Johnson.[528] The report also said "There is evidence that those who were advising Mr Johnson about what to say to the press and in the House were themselves struggling to contend that some gatherings were within the rules".[528] Johnson said none of the evidence showed he "knowingly" misled Parliament.[528] The report stated that the Commons may have been misled on multiple occasions and Johnson "did not correct the statements [at the] earliest opportunity".[528] The committee also stated that Johnson had "personal knowledge" over lockdown gatherings in No 10, which he could have disclosed.[528]
While speaking in the House of Commons in January 2022, Johnson falsely blamed Starmer for the non-prosecution of the serial sex offenderJimmy Savile when Starmer wasDirector of Public Prosecutions in theCrown Prosecution Service. Starmer was DPP in the years immediately prior to Savile's death but there is no evidence he was involved in the decision to not have him prosecuted.[529] A few days later, Johnson defended his comments but conceded that Starmer "had nothing to do personally with those decisions" by the CPS not to investigate Savile.[530]
In the week prior to and throughout thePlatinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II in June 2022, it had been speculated that a vote of confidence in Johnson's leadership of the Conservative Party might soon occur.[531][532] On 6 June 2022, the Conservative Party announced that Johnson would face a vote of confidence in his leadership of the party, after at least 54 Conservative MPs wrote no-confidence letters to SirGraham Brady, the chairman of the1922 Committee. Johnson won the vote, with 211 in favour and 148 against.[533][534] The number of rebel MPs was larger than had been expected.[534] The result was described by Keir Starmer as the "beginning of the end" for Johnson's premiership.[535]
June 2022 by-elections
Following heavy Conservative defeats in the 23 June 2022 by-elections inWakefield andTiverton and Honiton, former party leader Michael Howard called for Johnson to resign, saying: "[Mr Johnson's] biggest asset has always been his ability to win votes but I'm afraid yesterday's results make it clear that he no longer has that ability."[536][537]
Oliver Dowden, the Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party, resigned saying: "somebody must take responsibility".[538] Johnson announced that he had no intention of changing or resigning; senior Conservatives accused him of increasingly "delusional" behaviour.[539][540] On 26 June 2022 Johnson said: "At the moment I'm thinking actively about the third term and what could happen then, but I will review that when I get to it." He also claimed that he intended to stay as prime minister until the mid-2030s, although Number 10 later said that he had been joking.[541]
Government Deputy Chief WhipChris Pincher resigned on 30 June 2022, saying he had "drunk far too much" the night before at theCarlton Club inSt James's, London, and having "embarrassed myself and other people".[542] It was later alleged that he sexually assaulted two men,[543] and he was suspended as an MP.[544] On 3 July 2022 six new allegations against Pincher emerged, involving behaviour over a decade.[545]
Johnson allegedly referred to Pincher as "handsy" and Cummings said Johnson joked about him being "Pincher by name, pincher by nature" in 2020, leading to calls for Johnson to explain how much he knew about Pincher's behaviour.[546] Ministers initially said that Johnson was unaware of any specific complaints against Pincher when he was appointed as deputy chief whip. The BBC then reported, however, that an official complaint and subsequent investigation into Pincher, while he was at the Foreign Office (July 2019 to February 2020), had confirmed his misconduct, and that Johnson had been made aware at that time.[547] SirSimon McDonald, formerPermanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, later said that the prime minister had been briefed "in person" about Pincher.[548][549]
On 5 July 2022, Sunak and Javid resigned within minutes of each other,[550] followed over the next 24 hours by 11 other ministers, as well as Conservative MPs fromparliamentary private secretary and other Government positions;[551] otherbackbenchers also withdrew their support for Johnson. Many of the MPs stated that the Pincher affair had led them to change their minds on the suitability of Johnson to be prime minister.[552] It was reported on 6 July that Johnson could face another confidence vote, with members of the 1922 Committee considering changing the rules as soon as that evening to allow this to happen.[553] By 6 July, there had been a total of 31 resignations.[554] As of May 2022, the government comprised 122 ministers.[555]
Announcement of resignation
By the morning of 7 July, the newly installedChancellor of the Exchequer,Nadhim Zahawi, publicly stated his belief that Johnson should resign. Within hours, the BBC and other media reported Johnson's intention to resign. Johnson announced his resignation at 12.30 pm.[556][557][558]
I know that there will be many who are relieved, but perhaps quite a few who will be disappointed. And I want you to know how sad I am to give up the best job in the world – but them's the breaks.
Upon reports of his resignation, thepound sterling temporarily strengthened in value, and UK stocks rose.[559] He remained as prime minister until September, while the Conservative Party chose a new leader.[560] On 5 September 2022, it was announced thatLiz Truss had won theConservative leadership election. She became prime minister the next day.[561][562] During his farewell speech outside 10 Downing Street on 6 September 2022, Johnson referred to the Roman statesmanCincinnatus. Some commentators noted that, while, as Johnson said, Cincinnatus returned to his plough, he was also later recalled to power.[563]
Environmental policies
In November 2020 Johnson announced a 10-point plan for a "green industrial revolution", to include ending the sale of petrol anddiesel cars and vans by 2030,[d] quadrupling the amount ofoffshore wind power capacity within a decade, funding emissions-cutting proposals, and spurning a proposedgreen post-COVID-19 recovery.[565] In 2021 the Johnson government announced plans to cutcarbon emissions by 78% by 2035.[566]
Johnson announced that the UK would join the Global Methane Pledge to cutmethane emissions by 30% by 2030 at theCOP26 summit, which the UK hosted.[567][568] Before the summit, representatives ofGreenpeace andFriends of the Earth criticised Johnson's comments on plans to introduce "enforceable limits" on carbon emissions for other countries, which they accused of being unsubstantive,[569] and his government faced criticism from environmental groups for cutting taxes on domestic air travel, given theenvironmental impact of aviation.[570]
In April 2022, Johnson announced that eight morenuclear reactors would be built on existingnuclear power plant sites and called for an expansion in wind energy.[571] Under these plans, up to 95% of the UK's electricity could come fromlow-carbon power sources by 2030.[572]
Johnson said in July 2019 that his government would be very "pro-China" in an interview with the Hong Kong broadcasterPhoenix TV. He voiced support for Chinese presidentXi Jinping's infrastructure investment effort, theBelt and Road Initiative, and promised to keep the United Kingdom "the most open economy in Europe" forChinese investment.[578]
Johnson declined to describe the Chinese government'streatment of the Uyghur people as "genocide", despite use of the term by the United States.[581] Johnson's government argued that genocide should be decided by the International Criminal Court.[582] Nevertheless, he called what is happening to theUyghurs in Xinjiang as "utterly abhorrent".[581]
On 29 October 2025, The Guardian newspaper revealed that Boris Johnson approved the controversial China's London super-embassy proposal in 2018, a project that remains in limbo seven years later.[585]
Afghanistan
On 8 July 2021 the day after saying he was "apprehensive" about the future of Afghanistan following what was then theimpending withdrawal of US troops, while announcing the near completion of British troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, Johnson expressed the view that there was "no military path to victory for theTaliban".[586][587] Following thefall of Kabul to the Taliban, he blamed the United States for the crisis,[588][589] saying thatNATO alliance members "could not continue this US-led mission, a mission conceived and executed in support of America, without American logistics, without US air power and without American might".[590]
In May 2022, Johnson readied a draft that would unilaterally change parts of theNorthern Ireland Protocol, citing issues with medical supplies and cuts in VAT. One of the thornier points of contention involves safety regulations for food and plants, where the British government is opposed to a closer alignment with existing EU regulations. The EU rebuffed the idea of changing the text of the treaty to accommodate the British. A unilateral override by the UK would be tantamount to a breach of the agreement. As Johnson sought a more conciliatory tone, sources within the government began to stress that the draft is designed to be an "insurance policy" and would take years to become law.[595]
In November 2021 Johnson warned that the European Union faces "a choice" between "sticking up for Ukraine" and approving theNord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline from Russia to Europe.[596]
On 9 April 2022, Johnson travelled to Kyiv and met thePresident of Ukraine,Volodymyr Zelenskyy.[608] On 16 April 2022, Russia'sMinistry for Foreign Affairs banned Johnson and a number of senior British politicians from visiting Russia, saying that Britain aimed to isolate Russia politically and supply "the Kyiv regime with lethal weapons and coordinating similar efforts on the part of NATO".[609]
Within Ukraine, Johnson is praised by many as a supporter of anti-Russian sanctions andmilitary aid for Ukraine.[610] On 3 May, Johnsonvirtually addressed theUkrainian Parliament, becoming the first world leader to speak in Ukraine since the invasion. He pledged an extra £300m in military aid to Ukraine, praised Ukraine's resistance to Russia as its "finest hour" and said that the West had been "too slow to grasp what was actually happening" prior to Russia's invasion.[611][612] In July 2022, Johnson warned that it would be a mistake to cease fire andfreeze the conflict.[613] In August 2022, Johnson blamed Vladimir Putin for the emergingglobal energy crisis.[614]
AfterLiz Truss announced her resignation as Conservative Party leader on 20 October 2022, Johnson received more than the 100 MPs' nominations required to stand in theleadership election,[620] but soon announced that he would not stand.[621][622][623]
In May 2023, Johnson was referred to the police by the Cabinet Office regarding previously unknown potential breaches of COVID regulations between June 2020 and May 2021,[624] to which Johnson's office issued a statement criticising the "unfounded suggestions" which "has all the hallmarks of yet another politically motivated stitch-up".[624]
On 9 June 2023, the publication of his2022 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours led to a public feud with Sunak.[625][626] Johnson supporterNadine Dorries announced that she was resigning as an MP due to not being included as a peer on the honours list.[627] The same day, after receiving a confidential report from a committee of theHouse of Commons that was looking into whether he had lied to Parliament over lockdown-breaking parties, Johnson announced his resignation as MP.[628] His resignation statement said he is "not alone in thinking that there is a witch-hunt under way, to take revenge for Brexit and ultimately to reverse the 2016 referendum result".[629]
On 15 June, the Commons Privileges Committee published their report, which concluded that Johnson lied to and deliberately misled the House of Commons over Partygate, misled the Committee themselves during the hearing, and acted in contempt of the Committee itself through a "campaign of abuse and intimidation".[630] The report noted that had Johnson still been an MP, the committee would have recommended he be suspended from Parliament for 90 days.[631][632] The contents of the report represented a recommendation to the House of Commons,[633] which accepted the report by 354 votes to seven.[634][635]
On 16 June, Johnson was unveiled as a new columnist for theDaily Mail. The news websitePolitico Europe reported that Johnson would be paid a "very-high six-figure sum".[636][637] Johnson reportedly informed theAdvisory Committee on Business Appointments half an hour before the columnist assignment was publicly announced. The committee ruled that Johnson committed a "clear breach" of the rules since he had not sought its advice on the matter within an appropriate timeframe.[638][639]
Johnson condemnedHamas' attackon Israel, saying "there can be no moral equivalence between the terrorism of Hamas and the actions of the Israeli Defense Forces". He rejected calls for a ceasefire in theGaza Strip during theGaza war, and criticisedpro-Palestinian protests in the UK.[642] On 5 November 2023, Johnson visited Israel to express solidarity.[643]
In February 2024, Johnson had a private meeting with the president of Venezuela,Nicolás Maduro.[644] In March 2024,The Times reported that Johnson is expected to campaign for the Conservatives in the next general election.[645]
On 2 May 2024 Johnson was turned away from his polling station for theThames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, after forgetting to bringvalid photographic identification, a requirement of theElections Act, which Johnson introduced while in office. When he arrived he had nothing to prove his identity except the sleeve of his copy ofProspect magazine, on which his name and address had been printed. He said that when he returned a few minutes later, with hisdriving licence, he was then able to vote.[646] During the2024 general election, Johnson campaigned for the Conservatives, who lost the election in a landslide to Labour.[647]
In 2025, followingKeir Starmer's decision to recognise a Palestinian state, Johnson said the move was "ridiculous" and aimed for political benefit among voters as well as motivated by inner party politics.[651] Johnson also said that a Palestinian state should not be recognised because it has no clearly defined borders and its government is unable to control its borders as well as being ruled by Hamas, which Johnson described as "fascist".[651]
Johnson at a demonstration against hospital closures with Liberal Democrat MPJohn Hemming (left) and Conservative MPGraham Stuart (centre) in March 2006
[I am] free-market, tolerant, broadly libertarian (though perhaps not ultra-libertarian), inclined to see the merit of traditions, anti-regulation, pro-immigrant, pro-standing on your own two feet, pro-alcohol, pro-hunting, pro-motorist and ready to defend to the death the right ofGlenn Hoddle to believe in reincarnation.
Ideologically, Johnson has been described as a "One-Nation Tory".[652][653] Political scientists have described Johnson's political positions as ambiguous and contradictory, encompassingnativist, authoritarian andfree market tendencies on the one hand, and one-nationliberal conservatism on the other.[654] Some scholars have questioned Johnson's commitment to one-nation conservativism, instead characterising his ideology as flexible and populist.[655][656] Purnell stated that Johnson regularly changed his opinion on political issues, commenting on what she perceived to be "an ideological emptiness beneath the staunch Tory exterior".[657]
During his tenure as mayor, Johnson gained a reputation as "a liberal, centre-ground politician", according toBusiness Insider.[658] In 2012, the political scientistTony Travers described Johnson as "a fairly classic—that is, small-state—mildlyeurosceptic Conservative" who also embraced "modern social liberalism".[659]The Guardian stated that while mayor, Johnson blended economic and social liberalism,[660] withThe Economist saying that in doing so Johnson "transcends his Tory identity" and adopts a more libertarian perspective.[661] According to political scientist Richard Hayton, Johnson's premiership was about Brexit, which served as a "national cause". Johnson evoked the discourse ofpopular sovereignty andanti-establishment populism to portray Parliament as seeking to "sabotage" Brexit, and in doing so, presented himself "as the true representative of 'the people'".[654][662]
Scholars ofcomparative politics have drawn comparisons between Johnson and other populist leaders such as Donald Trump andViktor Orban.[662] Some commentators have likened Johnson's political style toTrumpism,[663][664][665] although others have argued that Johnson's stance on matters such as social policy, immigration and free trade is liberal.[666] Johnson biographer Gimson wrote that Johnson is economically and socially "a genuine liberal", although he retains a "Tory element" through his "love of existing institutions, and a recognition of the inevitability of hierarchy".[667] In 2019, reacting to reports inThe Sun, that Johnson had told cabinet colleagues he was "basically a Brexity Hezza", former deputy leader of the Conservative PartyMichael Heseltine wrote: "I fear that any traces of liberal conservatism that still exist within the prime minister have long since been captured by the rightwing, foreigner-bashing, inward-looking view of the world that has come to characterise his fellow Brexiters."[668]
Environment
Johnson spoke about climate action at theCOP26 climate summit in Glasgow on 1 November 2021.
Johnson initially expressedclimate sceptical views in several newspaper columns.[669][670][671] As Mayor of London from 2008 to 2016, Boris Johnson initiated several tree-planting programs to enhance the city's green spaces. His flagship pledge was to plant 10,000 street trees by 2012.[672][673]
Purnell believed it was the influence of Johnson's maternal family that led to him developing "a genuine abhorrence of racial discrimination".[679] In 2003, Johnson said, "I am not by any means an ultra-Eurosceptic. In some ways, I am a bit of a fan of theEuropean Union. If we did not have one, we would invent something like it."[680] As mayor, Johnson was known as a supporter ofimmigration.[680] From 2009, he advocated a referendum on Britain's EU membership.[680][681][682]
In 2018, during Brexit negotiations, Johnson called for Britain to leave theSingle Market[680] and advocated a more liberal approach to immigration than that of Prime Minister May.[683] He stated many people believed thatBritain's EU membership had led to the suppression of British wages and said the EU was intent on creating a "superstate" that would seek to rob Britain of its sovereignty.[680] In 2019, Johnson said he would take Britain out of the EU on 31 October whether there was a trade deal in place or not.[684] Johnson also stated his opposition to areferendum on the Brexit withdrawal agreement.[685]
On 19 August 2019, Johnson wrote a letter to the EU asking for the removal of the "backstop" accord. The president of the European Council,Donald Tusk, rejected the proposal.[686] On 26 August 2019, Johnson said that Britain would not pay £39 billion for the withdrawal agreement were the UK to leave without a deal. The European Parliament Brexit coordinatorGuy Verhofstadt said there would be no further negotiation unless the UK agreed to pay the entire sum.[687][needs update]
Unionism and devolution
Johnson described himself as a "fervent and passionateunionist".[688] He proposed building anIrish Sea Bridge, but he later scrapped this initiative.[689] The devolved administrations have criticised theInternal Market Bill for its re-centralisation of control over commerce.[690]
Johnson has said that "humour is a utensil that you can use to sugar the pill and to get important points across".[691] He is said to have a genuine desire to be liked.[692] Johnson has been described as having a light-hearted and charming persona;[693][694][695][696] many biographers and commentators suggest he has put significant effort into developing this version of himself.[697][698][699][691] He has also been described as heavily focused on his own interests,[700][701][702] with an often vitriolic or irresponsible way of conducting himself in private.[703][704][705]
Johnson has been described as a divisive, controversial figure in British politics.[706][707][708] Supporters have praised him as witty and entertaining.[709] Johnson has been accused of lying or making misleading statements throughout his career,[710] and has been compared to US presidentDonald Trump.[711][712][713][714] He has been considered a figure with broad appeal outside of the usual Conservative support base.[715] Johnson's premiership has been described by historians as the most controversial and scandal-affected since that ofDavid Lloyd George about a century earlier.[716]
Sonia Purnell wrote in 2011 that Johnson was a "highly evasive figure" when it came to his personal life,[724] who remained detached from others and who had few intimate friends.[725] Among friends and family, Johnson is more commonly known as Al (short for his forename Alexander), rather than Boris.[726]
In 2007, Johnson said he had smokedcannabis before he went to university.[727] He has also said he had usedcocaine.[728] Johnson partakes in cycling, tennis andpilates, and returned to road running in 2023.[729] He was consideredobese in 2018 andoverweight in 2020, and has spoken of making efforts to lose weight.[730][731]
Johnson previously owned a £1.3 million buy-to-let townhouse inCamberwell, South London. According toHM Land Registry documents, he bought the four-bedroom property with his then-girlfriendCarrie Symonds in July 2019. The register of MPs' interests states that Johnson had a rental income of at least £10,000 a year.[732] In 2023, Johnson and Symonds boughtBrightwell Manor inBrightwell-cum-Sotwell, Oxfordshire.[733]
Johnson was baptisedCatholic and laterconfirmed in theChurch of England,[35] but has said that his faith "comes and goes"[734] and that he is not a serious practising Christian.[735] In 2020 his son Wilfred was baptised Catholic.[736] Johnson and Symonds married in a Catholic ceremony atWestminster Cathedral on 29 May 2021.[737] Since he was baptised Catholic, but his previous weddings were not conferred by the Catholic Church, the Catholic Church considered them putatively invalid.[738][739]
Johnson holds ancient Greek statesmanPericles as a personal hero.[740][741] According to Johnson's biographer, Andrew Gimson, regarding ancient Greek andRoman polytheism: "it is clear that [Johnson] is inspired by the Romans, and even more by the Greeks, and repelled by theearly Christians".[742] Johnson viewssecular humanism positively and sees it as owing more to theclassical world than to Christian thinking.[743] In 2021 Johnson was asked if he held pre-Christian beliefs, which he denied, saying, "Christianity is a superb ethical system and I would count myself as a kind of very, very bad Christian... Christianity makes a lot of sense to me."[744]
Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson (b. 2020) Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson (b. 2021) Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson (b. 2023) Poppy Eliza Josephine Johnson (b. 2025)
Johnson andAllegra Mostyn-Owen married on 5 September 1987[749] and had no children together.[750][751][752][753] On 26 April 1993, the couple was granted a divorce orannulment,[e] which Mostyn-Owen sought due to Johnson's affair with barristerMarina Wheeler, daughter of journalistCharles Wheeler.[757][758] On 8 May 1993, twelve days after the end of his marriage to Mostyn-Owen, he married Wheeler,[759] who gave birth to their first child five weeks later.[758][760] They have four children together: Lara (born 1993), Milo (born 1995), Cassia (born 1997) and Theodore (born 1999).[761][762]
Between 2000 and 2004, Johnson had an affair withSpectator columnistPetronella Wyatt, resulting in a terminated pregnancy and amiscarriage.[157] In April 2006, theNews of the World alleged that he was having an affair withTimes Higher Education journalist Anna Fazackerley.[763] The pair did not comment; Fazackerley resigned after her editor questioned her about the allegations, and Johnson secured her a job as director of a higher education think tank.[763][168][169] In 2009, he fathered a daughter, Stephanie, with arts consultant Helen Macintyre, who subsequently lost a legal battle to prevent publication of her daughter's paternity.[200][764][765] During these proceedings, he was alleged to have fathered a second child with an affair partner while married to Wheeler;[766] this was not confirmed, although he was persistently evasive in subsequent interviews about how many children he had.[767][768] American entrepreneurJennifer Arcuri said that she had an affair with him from 2012 to 2016.[769][770] In early 2018, he began an affair with Carrie Symonds, then the Conservative Party's director of communications.[771][772] In September 2018, following media reports about the affair, Johnson and Wheeler confirmed that they had separated and were divorcing.[773] Johnson was subsequently reported to be sharing a flat with Symonds.[774]
After Johnson became prime minister in July 2019, he and Symonds moved into a flat above 11 Downing Street, the first time a prime minister had lived in Downing Street with an unmarried partner.[775][776] In February 2020, his divorce from Wheeler was finalised, making him the first prime minister to get divorced while in office since 1769.[777] Later that month, Symonds announced that she and Johnson had become engaged in late 2019 and were expecting their first child.[778] She gave birth to their son Wilfred in April 2020.[779][780][781] She suffered a miscarriage in early 2021.[782] On 29 May 2021, Johnson and Symonds married at Westminster Cathedral.[737][783] In September 2021, Johnson claimed in a U.S. television interview that he then had six children, the first time he had stated the number,[784][785] although this has not been officially confirmed.[786] He and Symonds subsequently had three more children, a daughter Romy (born December 2021),[787][788] a son Frank (born July 2023),[789] and a daughter Poppy (born May 2025).[790]
^Raab deputised for Johnson asFirst Secretary of State until September 2021, then as Deputy Prime Minister.
^Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2257/94 introduced the requirement for bananas to be "free from malformation or abnormal curvature"; different standards applied to different classes of banana.[75]
^The EU introduced limits on the power of vacuum cleaners in 2014.[77][78]
^This was a reduction on the 2035 target set in February that year, which brought forward the previous deadline of 2040.[564]
^Sources differ on whether the marriage ended in divorce[754][755] or with an annulment.[85][756]
^Johnson, Boris."Saying No To Ticket Office Closures"(PDF).Getting Londoners Moving (Transport Manifesto for the 2008 Mayoral election). Back Boris campaign. p. 38.Archived(PDF) from the original on 23 April 2010. Retrieved21 November 2013.
^Britchfield, Colm; Devine, Dan; Durrant, Tim (21 May 2019)."Government ministers".Institute for Government.Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved6 July 2022.
^"Honorary Graduates". Brunel University London.Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved6 October 2019.
^"RIBA Honorary Fellowships 2018 announced".Architecture.com.Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved11 November 2019.The lifetime honour allows recipients to use the initials Hon FRIBA after their name.
Gimson, Andrew.Boris: The Adventures of Boris Johnson (Simon & Schuster, 2012).
Heppell, Timothy; McMeeking, Thomas (2021). "The Conservative Party Leadership Transition from Theresa May to Boris Johnson: Party Popularity and Leadership Satisfaction".Representation.57 (1):59–73.doi:10.1080/00344893.2020.1778512.S2CID225753305.
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