A significant leak of documents from Boris Johnson’s private office suggests the former Prime Minister may have breached ethics and lobbying rules by leveraging his contacts and influence gained in office for personal financial gain. The "Boris Files" reportedly contain evidence of Johnson lobbying foreign officials and securing lucrative business ventures shortly after leaving Downing Street.
Key Takeaways
- Leaked documents suggest Boris Johnson may have profited from contacts made during his premiership.
- Allegations include lobbying senior Saudi officials and seeking patronage for a UAE business venture.
- Questions are raised about the use of taxpayer-funded allowances for former Prime Ministers.
- Johnson has denied wrongdoing, calling the allegations "rubbish."
Allegations of Misusing Influence
The trove of over 1,800 files, obtained by Distributed Denial of Secrets, allegedly details how Johnson has used his post-premiership office to manage a variety of highly paid jobs and business ventures. These activities have led to accusations of breaching "revolving door" rules, which govern the conduct of former ministers.
One report indicates Johnson lobbied a senior Saudi official he met while in office to share a business pitch with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Another suggests Johnson was hired as a "principal adviser" for a climate finance venture, Bia Advisory, with the aim of securing a billion-dollar investment from Abu Dhabi. Leaked documents reportedly show Johnson was offered a significant personal stake in this venture.
Financial Dealings and Public Funds
Further revelations suggest Johnson received over £200,000 from a hedge fund after meeting Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, contrary to previous statements. There are also suggestions of a secret meeting with Peter Thiel, founder of Palantir, months before the data firm was involved in managing NHS data.
The use of the Public Duty Costs Allowance (PDCA), a taxpayer-funded allowance for former Prime Ministers, is also under scrutiny. Official data shows Johnson has claimed £182,000 in PDCA payments since leaving government. His office has reportedly played a central role in managing his commercial endeavours, including speeches for high-paying clients, earning him approximately £5.1 million for 34 speeches between October 2022 and May 2024.
Johnson’s Response
Boris Johnson has vehemently denied the allegations. A statement released after the initial reports stated, "This story is rubbish. The PDCA has been used entirely in accordance with the rules. The Guardian should change its name to Pravda." He has not responded to specific questions regarding the Bia Advisory venture and his activities in Abu Dhabi.
Senior politicians have called for investigations into Johnson’s use of public funds and his post-ministerial dealings, drawing parallels to previous lobbying scandals involving former Prime Ministers.
