Boris Files: Did ex-UK PM Johnson use office contacts to make big money?

A significant leak of documents known now dubbed the “Boris Files” has placed former United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson under the lens.

The documents, numbering over 1,800 files, shed light on Johnson’s private and commercial activities after leaving office in September 2022, while also providing insights into certain actions during his tenure at 10 Downing Street.

The files were made available to The Guardian by Distributed Denial of Secrets (DDoS), a US-based non-profit organisation that archives leaked and hacked materials.

While DDoS has not confirmed the source of the leak, the data includes emails, letters, contracts, and other records that detail Johnson’s engagements and financial arrangements up to July 2024.

The revelations have prompted calls for investigations into Johnson’s conduct, with questions being raised about whether his interactions with foreign governments for commercial purposes breached existing rules.

What the Boris Files reveal

The leaked files paint a comprehensive picture of Johnson’s activities since leaving Whitehall

They suggest he capitalised on relationships built during his time as the UK’s prime minister to support his personal financial interests and the growth of his private business network.

The documents indicate that Johnson leveraged his connections with senior foreign officials and influential figures to open doors for commercial opportunities.

Some records detail lobbying activities that appear to directly involve foreign governments, raising questions about whether these actions complied with restrictions imposed on former ministers.

The files also cover aspects of Johnson’s tenure as prime minister, including previously undisclosed meetings and instances where Covid-19 lockdown rules may have been breached.

Boris Johnson’s lobbying efforts in Saudi Arabia

One of the most significant disclosures involves Johnson’s reported efforts to promote Better Earth, a consultancy firm he co-chairs, to senior Saudi officials.

In February 2024, Johnson attended a lunch and private meeting with Majid al-Qasabi, the Saudi Minister of Commerce, at an exclusive members’ club.

According to the files, this meeting was part of a broader plan for Johnson to establish a direct link with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Following the lunch, Johnson prepared a letter to the crown prince, introducing Better Earth and highlighting the company’s ability to assist Saudi Arabia with its environmental and energy transition goals.

In the letter, Johnson reflected on a past interaction with al-Qasabi, writing, “Although I now live a life of blameless rustic obscurity in Oxfordshire, I remain deeply committed to carbon reduction.”

He also mentioned his role in organising the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in 2021 and described Better Earth’s mission to deliver “practical solutions for developing green energy and reducing carbon.”

Johnson expressed his willingness to meet the crown prince personally to discuss potential collaboration.

Better Earth’s shareholder list includes several individuals closely connected to Johnson, such as two former Conservative ministers and Charlotte Owen, a former aide whom Johnson elevated to the House of Lords.

The timing of Johnson’s outreach is notable, as Saudi Arabia is preparing its carbon reduction commitments for COP30, scheduled to take place later this year.

The files suggest that Johnson positioned Better Earth as a potential adviser to the kingdom in formulating its climate strategies.

Payment to Boris Johnson linked to Venezuelan meeting

Another prominent revelation concerns Johnson’s meeting with Nicolás Maduro, the president of Venezuela, in February 2024.

Johnson was accompanied at the 45-minute meeting by Maarten Petermann, a hedge fund manager. Documents show that several months earlier, in September 2023, Petermann’s company, Merlyn Advisors, signed a contract with Johnson.

Although Johnson has publicly stated that he was not compensated for the meeting with Maduro, the files suggest otherwise.

Just weeks after the meeting, Johnson received £240,000 from Petermann.

Boris Johnson’s global speaking lucrative contracts

The Boris Files also reveal the scale of Johnson’s earnings from public speaking engagements since leaving office. Between October 2022 and May 2024, Johnson reportedly delivered 34 speeches, earning approximately £5.1 million during this period.

These appearances were often accompanied by substantial expenses covered by the event organisers, including first-class flights and five-star hotel accommodations for Johnson and his team.

Johnson’s speaking career was managed through his Office of Boris Johnson, a limited company established shortly after his resignation as prime minister.

This office also oversaw other commercial ventures, including partnerships with media outlets such as the Daily Mail and GB News.

While it is not uncommon for former prime ministers to engage in paid speaking events, strict rules exist to prevent lobbying or commercial activities involving governments and organisations they interacted with while in office.

According to the files, Johnson was explicitly reminded of these restrictions by an official watchdog on the day he departed Downing Street.

Use of public funds by Boris Johnson

Central to the controversy is the question of whether Johnson’s publicly funded allowance for former prime ministers was misused to support private commercial work.

The Public Duty Costs Allowance (PDCA) provides up to £115,000 annually to British ex-prime ministers to cover costs associated with public duties. This includes staff salaries and office expenses but excludes private business activities.

Official records confirm that Johnson has claimed £182,000 under this scheme since leaving office. A senior Cabinet Office source verified to The Guardian that these funds were used to pay staff salaries in his private office.

However, the leaked files indicate that the same office was deeply involved in managing Johnson’s private commercial interests. This overlap has led to concerns that taxpayer money intended for public service was instead supporting activities linked to personal profit.

Boris Johnson’s undeclared meeting with Peter Thiel

The leak also discloses that Johnson held a previously undisclosed meeting with Peter Thiel, the billionaire founder of US data analytics firm Palantir, while still serving as UK prime minister.

This meeting took place months before Palantir was awarded a role in managing NHS data.

Alleged Covid-19 rule breaches by Boris Johnson

The documents also provide new details about Johnson’s actions during the Covid-19 pandemic, adding to earlier controversies surrounding lockdown rule violations.

One record shows that on November 2020, Johnson hosted a private dinner at Downing Street for David Brownlow, a Conservative peer who had contributed £58,000 towards the refurbishment of Johnson’s official flat.

This gathering occurred just one day after the UK entered its second national lockdown, during which indoor social meetings were strictly prohibited.

Another entry from June 20, 2020, describes a “private appointment” involving Johnson, his then fiancée Carrie Symonds (now his wife), and three guests.

The attendees included Symonds’s close friend, a practitioner of “vibrational” music therapy, the friend’s mother, and a journalist. These individuals were hosted in the Downing Street flat and garden despite restrictions at the time forbidding such gatherings.

These incidents suggest possible additional breaches of Covid rules beyond those previously investigated, including the birthday party for which Johnson was fined by police.

How has UK reacted to the Boris Files

Opposition parties are demanding comprehensive investigations into Johnson’s post-premiership activities and the management of his public duty allowance.

Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney, the party’s Cabinet Office spokesperson, called for immediate action. “These allegations are extremely shocking,” Olney said.

“This is yet another reminder of how deep the rot in the Conservative Party goes — it is riddled by sleaze and scandal. The Government must suspend Boris Johnson’s access to the former prime minister public duty cost allowance pending a full and proper investigation.”

Critics argue that Johnson’s actions, if proven, may constitute violations of “revolving door” rules, which are designed to prevent former ministers from exploiting their positions for private gain immediately after leaving office.

These rules also aim to safeguard public trust by ensuring that contacts and sensitive information acquired during government service are not used for commercial purposes.

The Guardian remains the only media outlet known to have accessed the full dataset.

The presence of such sensitive materials on DDoS’s servers has sparked concerns about the security protocols surrounding the former British prime minister’s private office and communications.

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With inputs from agencies