Boris Johnson pockets $150,000 for 90-minute ‘fireside chat’ in US as ex-PM begins money-spinning speaking tour to put ‘hay in the loft’ after leaving Downing Street
- Boris Johnson pockets $150,000 for ‘fireside chat’ at US insurance conference
- Ex-Prime Minister appears at Insurance Leadership Forum in Colorado Springs
- He is expected to significantly boost his earnings now he has left Downing St
Boris Johnson has begun his lucrative new career away from Downing Street by pocketing $150,000 for a speech in the US.
The former prime minister took part in what was scheduled as a 90-minute ‘fireside chat’ at an insurance industry conference in Colorado.
The speech came a day after Mr Johnson registered a new company – named ‘The Office of Boris Johnson Limited’ – as he put together arrangements for his life outside No10.
The ex-premier had been widely expected to copy other former PMs by accepting well-paid speaking gigs now that he has left frontline politics.
He is also tipped to return to journalism, as well as complete a biography of Shakespeare he began prior to entering Downing Street.
Allies of Mr Johnson have previously claimed he was keen to put ‘hay in the loft’ once he had left No10, with the ex-PM eyeing a significant boost to his bank balance.
Mr Johnson’s appearance at the Insurance Leadership Forum – hosted by the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers at the Broadmoor Hall resort in Colorado Springs – was billed by the conference organisers as an ‘exclusive discussion on global politics and economics’.
He was reported to have received a standing ovation from the audience after speaking about Brexit and the war in Ukraine, as well as joking about his birth in New York City.
Boris Johnson took part in what was scheduled as a 90-minute ‘fireside chat’ at an insurance industry conference in Colorado
The ex-PM, pictured on a Greek trip with wife Carrie in August, was said to have left quickly to resume a private holiday with his family after the event finished
Mr Johnson’s ‘fireside chat’ event was scheduled to last 90 minutes. But, according to The Times, the ex-PM delivered a 30-minute speech before engaging in a 45-minute chat on stage with a senior insurance broker for a fee of more than $150,000 (£135,000).
He was said to have left quickly to resume a private holiday with his family after the event finished.
‘It was a privilege, an honour and a great opportunity to have the possibility to be so close to Mr Johnson in such an open environment,’ Renato Lilienfeld, president and senior partner in Lilienfeld Corredores de Seguros, Chile’s largest private insurance broker, told the newspaper.
‘I found that he was quite relaxed. He spoke about many topics in general about what’s going on in the world, with Ukraine and with economics worldwide. He talked a little bit about what he was able to achieve in the years he was working as PM.
‘He talked very much about Brexit as well and the reasons behind leaving the European Union.
‘He’s still a great believer in Brexit and that Brexit is good for the UK.’
Mr Johnson was also said to have talked about climate change, the Queen and – very briefly – Donald Trump, while also joking about drinking ‘very fancy’ French wine with former German Chancellor Angela Merkel at last year’s Cop-26 climate summit.
But he reportedly steered away from commenting on his successor Liz Truss and the current turmoil on financial markets following her mini-Budget.
During his time as PM, Mr Johnson earned £164,080 a year.
By remaining as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, he will continue to be paid £84,144 a year for his role in Parliament.
But he is now likely to earn much more from his activities away from Westminster.
By remaining as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Mr Johnson will continue to be paid £84,144 a year for his role in Parliament
On Monday, ‘The Office of Boris Johnson Limited’ was incorporated with Companies House
Mr Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, pays herself £85,000 a year through a company for her speaking engagements, which have earned hundreds of thousands of pounds this year alone.
On Monday, ‘The Office of Boris Johnson Limited’ was incorporated with Companies House and named Mr Johnson’s former No10 aide Shelley Williams-Walker as a director.
Mr Johnson is entitled to claim up to £115,000 a year as a former prime minister for running his office.
A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: ‘The Office of Boris Johnson Ltd will support Boris Johnson’s private office in line with similar structures established by former prime ministers.’
A longstanding friend of Mr Johnson recently added to suggestions the ex-premier could one day return for a second spell as PM.
Lord Marland, who helped lead Mr Johnson’s London mayoral campaign in 2008, claimed there was a ‘distinct possibility’ the outgoing PM could launch a comeback if the Tories lose the next election and are left looking for a new party leader ‘who can win elections’.
‘He said to me the other day, he wants to go and put hay in the loft – in other words, build up his bank balance so that he can afford to pay for the lifestyle he has created,’ the Tory peer told BBC Newsnight last month.
‘I think once he’s done that, if he’s still an MP… he does have that opportunity.’
A spokesman for Mr Johnson said his earnings for the Colorado event would be declared in the usual way.
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