Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Ethics body accuses Boris Johnson of new breach

Ministers and civil servants who leave office are required to consult an ethics body

Ethics body accuses Boris Johnson of new breach

FORMER British prime minister Boris Johnson, who quit parliament last week over a finding that he misled lawmakers about Covid lockdown parties, was accused of a new breach for taking a newspaper columnist job without waiting for required ethics vetting.

Nine months after he left the premiership, Johnson's ethics record is causing renewed trouble for the governing Tory party, divided over whether to endorse the findings of a committee of lawmakers that he deliberately misled parliament over parties at his office during the pandemic.


The committee, which has a Tory majority, said he should have been suspended from parliament had he not quit as a lawmaker last week. He called it a "political assassination", in a blistering resignation statement in which he also appeared to take swipes at prime minister Rishi Sunak.

On Friday (16), Johnson, 58, was named as a columnist for the Daily Mail newspaper, returning to a journalism career that had seen him write for several leading British titles, including one that sacked him for making up a quote.

"Whether you're a Boris fan or not, it’s going to be required reading - both in Westminster and for millions across the world," the paper said of the column which will appear on Saturdays.

Ministers and civil servants who leave office are required to consult an ethics body, the advisory committee on business appointments (ACOBA), before taking up new jobs. It said Johnson had committed a new breach by failing to give it proper notice.

"The ministerial code states that ministers must ensure that no new appointments are announced, or taken up, before the committee has been able to provide its advice," it said in a statement. "An application received 30 minutes before an appointment is announced is a clear breach."

ACOBA has no enforcement powers, but a new breach of rules could make it harder for Johnson to mount a political comeback.

Johnson started his working life in journalism, sacked by The Times newspaper for making up a quote. He went on to have a career at the Daily Telegraph, where as a Brussels correspondent he lambasted the European Union in vivid if not always accurate prose.

He later pursued parallel media and political careers as editor of the Spectator magazine and as an MP, and before becoming prime minister wrote a column for the Daily Telegraph.

That column often saw him criticised for his views - he was accused of Islamophobia when he said Muslim women who wear burqas looked like letter boxes or bank robbers.

(Reuters)

More For You

Southport

Floral tributes left by members of the public are seen following the fatal knife attack on three young girls in July in Southport.

Reuters

Public inquiry begins into Southport girls' murders

A PUBLIC inquiry begins on Tuesday into the murders of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Southport last year.

The inquiry will examine whether the attack could have been prevented and how future incidents might be avoided.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Getty

Starmer is facing a Labour backbench revolt over plans to reform special needs support in schools without guaranteeing existing legal rights. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images)

Starmer faces Labour pushback over SEND reform plans

KEIR STARMER is facing a backlash from Labour MPs over plans to reform special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support, after ministers stopped short of guaranteeing legal rights for parents.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the government was committed to reforming the current system, which costs £12 billion a year. However, she did not confirm if legally enforceable rights, such as those provided by education, health and care plans (EHCPs), would remain.

Keep ReadingShow less
Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit London

Londoners faced a wet and stormy start to the week

iStock

Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit London before 30°C heatwave

Key points

  • Heavy rain and thunderstorms drench London at the start of the week
  • Temperatures set to rise with highs of 31°C expected by Thursday
  • Heatwave could be declared by Friday if warm conditions persist
  • Night-time temperatures to remain high, increasing discomfort
  • UV and pollen levels forecast to be very high across the south

Thunderstorms soak London before summer heat returns

Londoners faced a wet and stormy start to the week as heavy rain and overnight thunderstorms swept through the capital. Monday morning saw widespread downpours, leaving commuters reaching for umbrellas and Wimbledon ticket hopefuls queuing in ponchos.

The unsettled conditions followed a burst of thunderstorms on Sunday afternoon and continued into the early hours of Monday, prompting caution across the city. The Met Office has not issued a formal weather warning for thunderstorms, but conditions remain unstable.

Keep ReadingShow less
National Trust sets vision to heal
nature and engage more Asians

Lisa Nandy, Steve Reed, René Olivieri and Hilary McGrady at a National Trust event marking its 130th anniversary

National Trust sets vision to heal nature and engage more Asians

THE National Trust, which is seeking to broaden its appeal to British Asians, is marking its 130th anniversary with a renewed commitment to restoring nature and widening access under a 10-year strategy.

Its director-general, Hilary McGrady, also aims to inspire more people to get involved in caring for the country’s natural resources.

Keep ReadingShow less
 7/7 bombings

The King said the public should draw on the 'extraordinary courage and compassion' shown in response to the attacks. (Photo credit: X/@RoyalFamily)

Starmer and King Charles pay tribute on 20th anniversary of 7/7 bombings

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer and King Charles on Monday paid tribute to the unity shown in the aftermath of the 7 July bombings in London, as the country marked 20 years since the attacks.

On 7 July 2005, four Islamist extremists carried out suicide bombings at Aldgate Station, Edgware Road, King's Cross and Tavistock Square. The attacks killed 52 people and injured hundreds more.

Keep ReadingShow less