Category Archives: boris johnson

Boris Johnson To Give Speech At Crypto Conference In Latest Post-Premiership Gig

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Boris Johnson is to continue his burgeoning career away from Downing Street by giving the keynote speech at a blockchain and cryptocurrency conference in Singapore.

The former prime minister, who remains the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, will appear at the International Symposium on Blockchain Advancement on December 2.

The conference is being organised by ParallelChain Lab, a blockchain technology company that “is reimaginging the use of blockchain in the digital economy”.

Dick Cheney, the former US vice president, is also speaking at the conference.

In September, Johnson was paid £130,000 to give a speech to a group of US insurance brokers in Colorado.

The Times reported that the speech was greeted with a standing ovation as he gave his assessment of the situation in Ukraine.

Johnson has also set up his own office, likely to be the vehicle for accepting earnings, registering The Office of Boris Johnson Ltd with Companies House.

Meanwhile, Johnson has confirmed he will attend the Cop27 conference in Egypt, piling further pressure on Rishi Sunak to backtrack on his decision to snub the climate summit.

The ex-PM said he was “happy to go” to Sharm El Sheikh for the United Nations meeting opening on Sunday.

However, Sunak is leaving his own decision to the last minute, having initially ruled out attending before signalling he could U-turn in the face of widespread criticism.

Johnson told Sky News “yes, as it happens” he will be attending, adding: “I was invited by the Egyptians so I’m very happy to go.”

Asked if his successor in No 10 should go too, he said Sunak has a “massive amount to do” with the government’s domestic agenda, adding: “I happen to have a particular interest.”

It came as Johnson said he does not believe Vladimir Putin will use a tactical nuclear weapon in the conflict with Ukraine, as it would be “crazy” to wreak “total disaster” on his own country.

The former prime minister said the act would “immediately tender Russia’s resignation from the club of civilised nations” and plunge the country into a “kind of cryogenic economic freeze”.

He added that he suspects it would trigger an “absolutely hysterical reaction” in Russia itself.

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BBC ‘Urgently Reviewing’ Newsreader’s ‘Gleeful’ Reaction After Boris Johnson’s Withdrawal From Tory Leadership Race

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The BBC has said it is “urgently reviewing” comments made on air by newsreader Martine Croxall following Boris Johnson’s exit from the Tory leadership race.

The presenter was accused of breaching the broadcaster’s strict impartiality rules after she asked if she was “allowed to be this gleeful” during Sunday evening’s newspaper review on the BBC News channel, which came shortly after the former prime minister announced he would not be standing to reclaim his old job.

“Well this is all very exciting isn’t it?” she told viewers: “Am I allowed to be this gleeful? Well I am.”

In her first question to her guests, Croxall also remarked: “Can we even show you the front pages just yet, have they arrived? No they haven’t arrived.

“It’s all a little bit, you know, lastminute.com isn’t it? Because all the front pages were probably out of date by the time we received them.”

Croxall also suggested during the programme that her comments could have breached BBC guidelines.

Responding to a guest’s joke aimed at Johnson, she said: “I shouldn’t probably (laugh). I’m probably breaking some terrible due impartiality rule by giggling.”

Her comments – which aired around 90 minutes after Johnson’s announcement – attracted criticism from some viewers and Tory MP Nadine Dorries on social media, claiming they displayed bias.

A statement from the broadcaster said: “BBC News is urgently reviewing last night’s edition of The Papers on the News Channel for a potential breach of impartiality.

“It is imperative that we maintain the highest editorial standards. We have processes in place to uphold our standards, and these processes have been activated.”

The Telegraph and Press Association also reported Martine has been taken off air for an “undefined period”, although the BBC has not officially confirmed this.

The BBC would not verify this claim when contacted by HuffPost UK.

On Twitter, Croxall told one viewer to consider the “context” of her remarks, later clarifying: “The rollercoaster of politics. Fascinating to report on.”

When another Twitter user said they expected her comments were “journalistic excitement and not relief, like most of the viewers”, she replied: “Very much the former!”

On Monday, it was announced that Rishi Sunak had won the Conservative Party leadership contest and will become the next prime minister.

The former chancellor secured the overwhelming support of MPs and will be installed as PM without a vote of the party membership.

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Nadhim Zahawi Mocked For Backing Boris Johnson And Rishi Sunak In The Same Half Hour

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A Tory minister has been mocked for publicly declaring his support for Boris Johnson’s Tory leadership bid and then switching to his arch-rival Rishi Sunak less than half an hour later.

Nadhim Zahawi, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said the UK should “get ready for Boris 2.0” in an article published by the Daily Telegraph at 9pm.

But just two minutes earlier, Johnson had issued a statement saying he had decided to pull out of the race.

Nadhim Zahawi's article backing Boris Johnson was published at 9pm
Nadhim Zahawi’s article backing Boris Johnson was published at 9pm

Daily Telegraph

In a remarkable about-turn, Zahawi – who urged Johnson to resign as prime minister in July – then posted a tweet at 9.29pm announcing that he had switched his support to Sunak.

Unsurprisingly, Zahawi was slammed on Twitter for his latest embarrassing U-turn.

The Tory leadership contest is now a two-horse race between Sunak and Penny Mordaunt.

However, Sunak is the red hot favourite, having already secured more than 120 nominations, compared to Mordaunt’s 24.

The deadline for reaching the 100 MP threshold is 2pm tomorrow.

But a source close to Sunak said: “We are not taking anything for granted. Rishi will be continuing to talk to colleagues tomorrow morning before nomination papers go in, and discussing how best to unite the party and take the country forward.”

A Mordaunt campaign source said: “Penny is still running to be the leader of the Conservative Party.

“Penny is the unifying candidate who is most likely to keep the wings of the Conservative Party together and polling shows that she is the most likely candidate to hold onto the seats the Conservative Party gained in 2019.”

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Boris Johnson Pulls Out Of Race To Be Prime Minister

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Boris Johnson has ruled himself out of running for the Tory leadership, despite claiming he had the support required to do so.

The former prime minister said he had “much to offer” but that now was “simply not the right time”.

Johnson said he was “well placed” to deliver a Tory win at the next general election but suggested it would be hard to govern a disunited party.

“You can’t govern effectively unless you have a united party in parliament,” he said.

He also confirmed that he had appealed to the other two candidates – Rishi Sunak and Penny Mordaunt – but they had not been able to work out a deal.

Johnson pulled out just a few hours after his campaign team told supporters they had secured the 100 nominations needed from MPs to get on the ballot paper.

A number of cabinet ministers, including Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nadhim Zahawi, had backed their former boss.

One reason why the former PM may have decided not to run is that he is facing an inquiry into whether he lied to the Commons over the partygate scandal.

If found guilty by the Commons Privileges Committee, he could face recall proceedings that would leave him battling for his seat in the Commons if he receives a suspension of 10 days or more.

Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak.
Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak.

DANIEL LEAL via Getty Images

It now looks increasingly likely that former chancellor Sunak is heading for No.10 and will be Britain’s next prime minister.

In a statement, Johnson said: “In the last few days I have been overwhelmed by the number of people who suggested that I should once again contest the Conservative Party leadership, both among the public and among friends and colleagues in Parliament.

“I have been attracted because I led our party into a massive election victory less than three years ago – and I believe I am therefore uniquely placed to avert a general election now.

“A general election would be a further disastrous distraction just when the government must focus on the economic pressures faced by families across the country.

“I believe I am well placed to deliver a Conservative victory in 2024 – and tonight I can confirm that I have cleared the very high hurdle of 102 nominations, including a proposer and a seconder, and I could put my nomination in tomorrow.

“There is a very good chance that I would be successful in the election with Conservative Party members – and that I could indeed be back in Downing Street on Friday.

Penny Mordaunt.
Penny Mordaunt.

ISABEL INFANTES via Getty Images

“But in the course of the last days I have sadly come to the conclusion that this would simply not be the right thing to do. You can’t govern effectively unless you have a united party in parliament.

“And though I have reached out to both Rishi and Penny – because I hoped that we could come together in the national interest – we have sadly not been able to work out a way of doing this.

“Therefore I am afraid the best thing is that I do not allow my nomination to go forward and commit my support to whoever succeeds. I believe I have much to offer but I am afraid that this is simply not the right time.”

A source close to Rishi Sunak said: “We are not taking anything for granted. Rishi will be continuing to talk to colleagues tomorrow morning before nomination papers go in, and discussing how best to unite the party and take the country forward.”

A Mordaunt campaign source said: “Penny is still running to be the leader of the Conservative Party.

“Penny is the unifying candidate who is most likely to keep the wings of the Conservative Party together and polling shows that she is the most likely candidate to hold onto the seats the Conservative Party gained in 2019.

“Ed Balls, shadow cabinet ministers and Labour advisers have all said Penny is the candidate Keir Starmer fears the most.”

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Could Boris Johnson Be About To Become Prime Minister For A Second Time?

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Boris Johnson is planning to throw his hat into the ring to succeed Liz Truss as prime minister – just six weeks after he quit 10 Downing Street.

The former PM – who was forced to quit after a wave of resignations sparked by the Chris Pincher scandal – is taking soundings from his supporters before making a final decision.

When he resigned, he described being PM as “the best job in the world”.

He is currently in the Caribbean on holiday, but is preparing to cut it short to fly back to London before making a final decision.

But critics pointed out that he still faces a privileges committee investigation into whether he misled parliament over the partygate scandal, which could potentially see him thrown out of parliament.

Truss resigned earlier today and announced that her successor would be chosen within a week.

Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, has hinted that an online ballot will take place, meaning party members will be given a say on the new PM.

That increases Johnson’s chances, given he is still popular with Conservative activists who remain angry at the way he was ousted by MPs in July.

Bookmakers have already slashed their odds on him being re-elected prime minister, making him second favourite behind Rishi Sunak, the man whose resignation as chancellor helped to bring him down.

Commons leader Penny Mordaunt – who lost out to Truss in the last leadership contest – has already confirmed that she will stand again, while other possible contenders include Kemi Badenoch, Ben Wallace and Suella Braverman.

Several Tory MPs have already given their support to Johnson coming back, including loyalists Nadine Dorries, Michael Fabricant and Andrea Jenkyns.

But health minister Robert Jenrick, who served in Johnson’s cabinet between 2019 and 2021, told the News Agents podcast: “The Boris that I supported when he stood in 2019 was one of the greatest campaigners in modern political history, somebody who was able to galvanise people to win that incredible general election, defeat Jeremy Corbyn, get Brexit done.

“So, there was definitely a case for Boris, and I think I was right to support him in 2019. You could argue that the Conservative Party is in such a difficult place, that his formidable campaigning skills are required once again.

“On the other hand, his premiership came to an end for a reason, which is that there were serious questions about competence, credibility, and ethics and does the Conservative Party want to go back to that?.”

And Tory MP John Baron said: “I believe – rightly or wrongly – he misled parliament on a number of occasions. We have to look forward not back.”

A Labour source told HuffPost UK: “The Tories all droning on about how they need a sensible, serious person to manage the party and deliver stability, then that honking pudding turns up with his travelling circus. Delicious.”

Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper called on the Tories to block Johnson’s possible return.

She said: “The fact that Conservative MPs are even considering putting Boris Johnson back in Number 10 shows how out of touch they really are. They think there’s one rule for them and another for everyone else.

“Boris Johnson was forced to resign in disgrace after countless lies, scandals and failures. He shattered public trust in the government and plunged the UK into a political crisis. He must never be allowed near Downing Street again.”

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Rylan Clark Claims Boris Johnson’s Team Tried To Pull This Morning Interview When They Found Out He Was Hosting

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The politician sat down with Rylan and Holly Willoughby on the ITV daytime show in June 2016, but writing in his new autobiography Ten, the former X Factor star alleged he was told that Johnson’s advisors felt he wasn’t “qualified enough” to do the interview.

Speaking about how he often faces snobbery around his interest in and commentary on politics, Rylan wrote (via Evening Standard): “In 2016 before the EU referendum, for example, I was due to interview Boris Johnson on This Morning.

“Then I found out he had threatened to pull out because his advisers heard that I was standing in for Phillip Schofield that day.

“Apparently they thought I wasn’t ‘qualified enough’ to ask him questions.

“Obviously, This Morning didn’t tell me this, and I’m sure it wasn’t Boris who said it, it was probably someone on his team, and I did eventually interview him, but how do they know if I’m qualified or not?”

HuffPost UK has contacted Boris Johnson’s team for comment and is awaiting a response.

Earlier this year, Rylan hit out at the Tory party during an appearance on The Last Leg and called on MPs to “run the country right, look after people in this country and stop being a fucking arsehole” amid in-fighting in the Conservatives.

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From A Spider Surprise To Boris Bashing: How Twitter Reacted To Coverage Of The Queen’s Funeral

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It was a solemn day for the nation. But on social media, people were taking a more sideways look at the Queen’s state funeral.

Here’s just some of the quirkier, unintended highlights of the day seen through Twitter’s prism.

Archbishop of Canterbury v Boris Johnson?

During his sermon at the funeral, the Archbishop of Canterbury told the congregation the outpouring of emotion for the Queen “arises from her abundant life and loving service, now gone from us”.

Justin Welby told mourners: “People of loving service are rare in any walk of life. Leaders of loving service are still rarer.

“But in all cases those who serve will be loved and remembered when those who cling to power and privileges are forgotten.”

Many thought he was pointedly referring to the recently departed prime minister.

Who is the tall man?

An “impossibly tall” mourner walking in the Queen’s procession caught many people’s attention.

Towering above soldiers and sailors, Matthew Magee, who stands at 7 feet 2 inches tall, was appointed by the Queen as her assistant private secretary in 2018.

Spider surprise

Several people on social media noted the appearance of a spider on the Queen’s coffin as the ceremony took place.

The creature was seen crawling across a piece of card placed on the coffin alongside the crown and a floral display.

Mike Tindall’s medals

The Queen’s granddaughter Zara Tindall arrived with her husband Mike, the former England rugby union international.

But why was the non-military man wearing four medals?, Twitter asked.

“What did Mike Tindall do to get four military medals? Watching Dad’s Army?”, wrote one.

Another said: “What medals has Mike Tindall got? Has he got his World Cup Winners medal pinned to his jacket?”

Reports noted one represented his award of a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2007 for his contribution to rugby, and another was the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

The silver medal, which bears the Queen’s face, was gifted to Tindall as a member of the royal family, and the last is the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.

Where’s Prince Louis?

The future King, Prince George, and his sister, Princess Charlotte, remained impeccably behaved through a long and solemn day as they bid farewell to their beloved “Gan Gan”.

But the prince and princess’ four-year-old brother, Prince Louis, was not present, and many on Twitter began to speculate.

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Liz Truss Says The Queen Was ‘The Rock On Which Modern Britain Was Built’

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Liz Truss has described Queen Elizabeth II as “the rock on which modern Britain was built” following her death this afternoon.

The new prime minister paid an emotional tribute to the late monarch in a statement on the steps of 10 Downing Street.

The Queen’s death came just two days after she accepted Boris Johnson’s resignation as prime minister and then invited Truss to form a new government during an audience at Balmoral.

Truss said: “We are all devastated by the news we have just heard from Balmoral. The death of her Majesty the Queen is a huge shock to the nation and to the world.

“Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built. Our country has grown and flourished under her reign. Britain is the great country it is today because of her.”

Truss said the UK was now “a modern, thriving, dynamic nation” as a result of the Queen’s 70-year reign.

“Through thick and thin, Queen Elizabeth II provided us with the stability and the strength that we needed,” she said. “She was the very spirit of Great Britain and that spirit will endure.”

The PM said the late monarch had been “a personal inspiration to me and to many Britons – her devotion to duty is an example to us all”.

And she added: “In the difficult says ahead, we will come together with our friends across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the world to celebrate her extra ordinary lifetime of service.

“It is a day of great loss, but Queen Elizabeth II leaves a great legacy.”

In his own tribute on Twitter, Johnson said: “This is our country’s saddest day,”

“We think of her deep wisdom, and historic understanding, and her seemingly inexhaustible but understated sense of duty,” he said.

“Relentless though her diary must have felt, she never once let it show, and to tens of thousands of events – great and small – she brought her smile and her warmth and her gentle humour – and for an unrivalled 70 years she spread that magic around her kingdom.

“This is our country’s saddest day because she had a unique and simple power to make us happy. That is why we loved her.

“That is why we grieve for Elizabeth the Great, the longest serving and in many ways the finest monarch in our history.”

Labour leader Keir Starmer said the country would mourn “the passing of a remarkable sovereign”.

He said: “We will always treasure Queen Elizabeth II’s life of service and devotion to our nation and the Commonwealth; our longest-serving and greatest monarch.”

Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle tweeted: “Few of us in the House of Commons have ever known a time when Her Majesty was not there, so her passing has left a huge hole in our lives.

“She was our equilibrium, our history, our guide and our Queen – and we will miss her beyond measure.”

Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “The death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth is a profoundly sad moment for the UK, the Commonwealth and the world.

“Her life was one of extraordinary dedication and service. On behalf of the people of Scotland, I convey my deepest condolences to The King and the Royal Family.”

Former prime minister Tony Blair said the Queen “was not only respected but loved”.

“Respected because of the qualities of duty, decency, integrity and fidelity which she embodied,” he said. “And loved because of the love and affection she bestowed on us.”

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said: “We are all deeply mourning the profound loss of a great monarch, who served our country so faithfully all her life and who was loved the world over.

“For many people, including myself, The Queen was an ever-fixed mark in our lives. As the world changed around us and politicians came and went, The Queen was our nation’s constant.

“The Queen represented duty and courage, as well as warmth and compassion. She was a living reminder of our collective past, of the greatest generation and their sacrifices for our freedom.”

Meanwhile, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch announced that the rail strikes planned for September 15 and 17 have been suspended following the Queen’s death.

He said: “The RMT joins the whole nation in paying its respects to Queen Elizabeth.

“The planned railway strike action on 15 and 17 September is suspended. We express our deepest condolences to her family, friends and the country.”

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Kwasi Kwarteng Appointed Chancellor In New Liz Truss Cabinet

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Kwasi Kwarteng has been appointed chancellor as Liz Truss made major changes as the new prime minister assembled her new cabinet.

He served as business secretary under Boris Johnson and is a close ally of Truss and early supporter of he leadership bid.

The appointments mean that for the first time in history none of the great offices of state are held by white men.

It follows Therese Coffey being appointed health secretary and deputy prime minister.

Truss began her cabinet reshuffle with a cull of prominent Rishi Sunak supporters, sending Dominic Raab, Grant Shapps and Steve Barclay to the backbenches swiftly after she became prime minister.

She removed the senior figures who had backed her rival in the Tory leadership race promptly after heading to her House of Commons office following her first speech in Downing Street on Tuesday.

Kwarteng, whose appointment to No 11 had been widely expected, replaces Nadhim Zahawi in the Treasury.

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Priti Patel To Resign As Home Secretary And Return To Backbenches

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Priti Patel is standing down as home secretary following the election of Liz Truss as Tory leader.

Patel, a key supporter of Boris Johnson, tweeted her resignation letter on Monday evening, saying it had been the “honour of my life to serve as home secretary for the last three years”.

Patel did not endorse any candidate in the leadership contest and was widely expected to be moved from her brief on the appointment of a new leader.

Reports suggest that Truss is preparing to appoint fellow leadership contender Suella Braverman to Patel’s role.

In her resignation letter, Patel paid tribute to Johnson for winning the 2019 general election and for breaking the parliamentary deadlock over Brexit.

“Under your leadership, we have made our country safer, strengthened law and order, delivered our manifesto commitments, and laid strong foundations for our successors at Number 10 and in the Home Office to build on,” she wrote.

“I congratulate Liz Truss on being elected our new leader, and will give her my support as our new prime minister.

“It is my choice to continue my public service to the country and the Witham constituency from the backbenches, once Liz formally assumes office and a new home secretary is appointed.

“From the backbenches, I will champion many of the policies and causes I have stood up for both inside and outside of government.”

Patel’s resignation comes as she today defended her controversial policy of sending migrants to Rwanda.

The High Court heard a case in which several asylum seekers, the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) and groups Care4Calais and Detention Action questioned the legality of the plan.

Patel signed what she described as a “world-first agreement” with Rwanda in April but the first deportation flight, due to take off on June 14, was grounded amid a series of legal challenges.

During the hearing those disputing the policy said Rwanda was an “authoritarian state” that “tortures and murders those it considers to be its opponents”.

Patel rejected their argument in the Commons, insisting the policy was “legitimate” and replying “absolutely not” when asked to abandon it.

Despite the policy being launched to deter migrants from making dangerous crossings across the channel, figures released by the Ministry of Defence today revealed 1,160 people were detected on Sunday in 25 boats.

Since the deal was announced, 22,116 people have crossed the Channel to the UK in small boats.

Patel took a parting shot at the “political opponents” and “left-wing activists” she accused of seeking to block her efforts as home secretary.

“While they stand up for the criminals, terrorists, people smugglers, those with no right to be in the UK, and people who threaten public safety and would do our country harm, we have never faltered and never stopped doing what is right to protect the public,” she said.

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