According to a report in the Sunday Times, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, 58, has received financial support while in office – and has not made it public.
According to the report, a Canadian entrepreneur distantly related to Johnson guaranteed a consumer loan of approximately CHF 900,000 that would be available from February 2021. Johnson and his family also allegedly spent several vacations at one of the man’s luxury estates in the Caribbean without paying for it.
Potential Conflict of Interest
Particularly spicy is that the entrepreneur would have applied for the leadership of the British cultural institute British Council at the same time. It is a non-profit organization promoting international relations. The entrepreneur was turned down, but Johnson should have disclosed the conditions of the loan and free vacation rentals, given the potential conflict of interest, according to the newspaper.
Faced with this, a Johnson spokesman told the Sunday Times that neither the ex-premier nor the Downing Street seat of government were aware of the Canadian entrepreneur’s application to the British Council at the time and did not support it. “All of Boris Johnson’s financial interests have been duly reported,” the spokesman said.
Lavish fees for speeches
According to the report, his salary as head of government of about CHF 186,000 a year was apparently not enough to finance his lifestyle – and he was in trouble.
Johnson now earns a lot more money. Although he is still a member of parliament, he has already collected CHF 1.36 million in speaking fees since his forced resignation in September. It was only recently revealed that he received a one-off donation of £1 million in December. It is speculated that he is currently preparing a comeback as prime minister. (ced/SDA)