Boris Johnson receives £2.5million speech advance | Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson received £2.5million as a speech advance, meaning he received income, hospitality and donations worth over £5million sterling over the past six months since his departure.

The former prime minister has embarked on a lucrative tour of the global speaking circuit since leaving No. 10, speaking to investors in the technology behind cryptocurrency, insurers and investment bankers, as well as to take over £500,000 as an advance for a dissertation. At the same time he remained in his principal post as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

Johnson also accepted a donation of more than £1million from Christopher Harborne, a Thailand-based crypto and aviation fuel investor who previously donated £6million to the now-known Brexit party. as Reform UK.

Johnson’s latest revelation shows he is accepting £2,488,387.53 as an advance for future speaking engagements arranged through the Harry Walker agency in New York.

At the same time, Johnson received £13,500 a month in accommodation donated by Tory donor Lord Bamford and his wife. This is thought to include a townhouse in London as well as the use of property in the Cotswolds. The couple are friends of the former Prime Minister and also strong Brexit supporters.

Harborne’s donation was for running his office, prompting speculation that Johnson may be preparing to attempt a comeback as prime minister – something his allies strongly denied.

The Boris Johnson Ltd office was set up in October last year. Companies House records show its sole original manager was Shelley Williams-Walker, Johnson’s longtime assistant.

She has since been replaced by Ann Sindall, another close ally of Johnson, who was his secretary when he edited the Spectator magazine and continued to work with him when he was mayor of London.

Johnson has also declared free use of a VIP suite at Heathrow and Gatwick airports on several occasions since August.

The former prime minister was given permission to speak through Harry Walker’s agency of the Advisory Board for Professional Appointments (Acoba) last year, but he does not appear to have stuck to his rule that he would have to wait three months after leaving office before taking up paid employment. It was previously suggested that the first engagement in September was unique.

Johnson had previously breached Acoba rules by failing to report a Daily Telegraph column after leaving his post as Foreign Secretary.