Boris Johnson becomes “Daily Mail” columnist Shoigu wants to impose mercenary contract on Wagner – Putin follows suit

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has become a columnist for the Daily Mail tabloid, once again breaking the rules for former members of government.

He will write “completely uncensored stuff,” the conservative politician said in a clip published by the tabloid on Friday.

The 58-year-old is expected to lash out at incumbent Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Johnson’s supporters blame him for the populist politician’s departure.

Contrary to requirements, Johnson has not sought approval from the responsible Acoba committee for his new lucrative job. This has been confirmed by a spokesperson for the board of the Daily Mirror newspaper. Acoba chairman Eric Pickles wanted to ask the ex-government for clarification, it said.

In 2018, following his resignation as Foreign Secretary, Johnson took over a column for the Telegraph newspaper and was reportedly paid £275,000 (currently CHF 315,000) a year for it. Even then he had not received approval from the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba).

Johnson resigned from the House of Commons on June 9. He had previously learned that a parliamentary committee had accused him of repeatedly lying to the House of Commons in the “Partygate” affair over lockdown celebrations. The committee wanted to propose that Johnson be suspended for 90 days – also because he had sharply criticized the members of the panel.

(yam/sda/dpa)