UK’s Johnson gives up lucrative newspaper column
Print Edition
BRITAIN’S new foreign minister Boris Johnson has given up his lucrative newspaper column, which he had used for years to mock world leaders, his spokesman said yesterday.
The leading Brexit campaigner was paid 250,000 pounds (US$330,000) a year for his weekly article in The Daily Telegraph, which he continued writing during his eight-year tenure as mayor of London.
He used the column to showcase his rapier wit, but some of his barbs — including comparing White House hopeful Hillary Clinton to a “sadistic nurse” — came back to haunt him when he was named foreign secretary last week.
Prime Minister Theresa May, who took office following the June 23 referendum vote for Britain to leave the European Union, stunned observers by naming gaffe-prone Johnson as her top diplomat. His new job comes with a salary of 135,527 pounds a year, which includes 74,962 pounds for being a member of parliament.
“Whilst Mr Johnson has enjoyed a close working relationship with The Daily Telegraph for over 20 years, it would not be appropriate for him to continue writing his long-standing column for the newspaper given his new role as foreign secretary,” his spokesman said.
Asked if May had told Johnson to give up the column, the prime minister’s spokeswoman said only that it was his decision.
“Boris has been an outstanding columnist for The Daily Telegraph for many years, with a legion of devoted readers,” said Telegraph Media Group editor Chris Evans, wishing him well in his new job.
Johnson, who stepped down as London mayor in May, was in Brussels yesterday for his first talks with EU counterparts.
The 52-year-old was also working on a book on Shakespeare that was due to be published in October, but has now been postponed “for the foreseeable future,” publishers Hodder and Stoughton said.
Johnson has received an advance payment of around 90,000 pounds for the book but it is thought unlikely that he will have to repay it as the commission has not been withdrawn.
“Hodder and Stoughton confirm that they are postponing publication of Boris Johnson’s ‘Shakespeare: The Riddle of Genius’,” the publishers said.
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