Millions for the comeback?

Boris Johnson receives large donation

Created: 01/13/2023 16:34

Ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson has not yet commented on whether he actually intends to return.

© Daniel Leal/PA Wire/dpa/Archive

Boris Johnson has received a million pounds from a wealthy entrepreneur.

It's not the only large sum that the former prime minister recently received.

Does he want to go back to the top?

LONDON - One of the largest single donations to a politician in British history has fueled speculation that Boris Johnson could return to the front row.

"This new £1million donation makes it quite obvious that he's not going away," commented Sky News chief correspondent Jon Craig.

The mega donation, which was made in December, was made public at an exciting moment.

Because just recently, ex-Prime Minister Johnson gave a speech in London's exclusive Carlton Club - something like the unofficial headquarters of his Conservative Party - which some observers already saw as the starting signal for his campaign.

Officially, it was about the unveiling of a portrait painting, an award that all previous heads of government receive.

Speech counts as attacking Sunak

In fact, Johnson's speech, which was praised as "stormy" by those present, was seen as an attack on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and evidence of his own ambitions.

"Keep fighting (...) for a dynamic global Britain with low taxes," Johnson called out to the audience, among others.

Sunak had to grudgingly announce tax increases a few weeks ago.

So now the donation of the equivalent of around 1.13 million euros, which was published in the Register of Additional Income of British MPs and went to Johnson's office.

It comes from British tech entrepreneur Christopher Harborne.

The businessman, who has lived in Thailand for around 20 years, is considered one of the country's most important Brexit financiers.

He has donated around £6 million to the former Brexit Party led by far-right Nigel Farage, one of the driving forces behind the EU exit, according to the Guardian newspaper.

Brexit: Johnson advertises himself as a hit man

In his speech at the Carlton Club, Johnson emphatically advocated that the Conservatives should use Brexit offensively.

"Only one party really believes in Brexit," he said.

“And when people get that, the political dynamic will change.” The message: Prime Minister Sunak, although a Brexiteer by tradition, is far too hesitant.

Rather, it takes a bang to take advantage of the alleged opportunities of leaving the EU.

So someone like Johnson.

With his million-dollar donation, Harborne shows that he alone believes Johnson is capable of implementing Brexit and turning away from the Tories' disastrous poll numbers, wrote political veteran Craig.

"If there was ever proof that Mister Johnson and his adoring fans were planning a comeback to what they see as saving the Conservative Party from a crushing electoral defeat under Rishi Sunak, this is it." According to polls, the opposition Labor Party on track to win general election scheduled for 2024.

£1.2million earnings as a speaker

Harborne's million is by no means the only large sum Johnson has raked in since leaving Downing Street in September.

The register shows the 58-year-old received just over £250,000 in fees for two speeches in December.

The total of his earnings as a speaker since leaving as Prime Minister is around £1.2 million.

He also appears to be using a luxury property in London owned by the Bamford couple, rent-free.

In the register, Johnson states that the Bamfords donate the cost of renting him £10,000 a month.

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Johnson has not yet said whether he actually intends to return.

The fact that he never forgave his exit from Downing Street, which was forced by his own parliamentary group, is considered certain.

After the resignation of his short-term successor Liz Truss, he had already made a new attempt, but then gave up in favor of Sunak.

To this day it is unclear why.

Because at the party base, the shirt-sleeved Johnson is significantly more popular than the incumbent.

The local elections at the beginning of May are now considered a possible date for a new attack.

If the Tories then suffer the expected hard defeat, Johnson could appear as the savior in need.

But earlier it could be decided whether the comeback plans really have a chance.

A parliamentary committee dealing with the "Partygate" scandal surrounding lockdown parties in Downing Street could soon summon the ex-Prime Minister.

If MPs come to the conclusion that Johnson lied to Parliament at the time, Johnson's political career is over for now.

Recently, new details have come to light that contradict Johnson's statements that the corona rules have always been observed.

dpa