Johnson, Boris – Prime Minister - ACOBA advice
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-10)

Advice to the Rt Hon Boris Johnson, former Prime Minister, on business appointments after leaving Crown service.

Rt Hon Boris Johnson left his role as Prime Minister in September 2022

Better Earth and BIA Advisory

The Chair of ACOBA wrote to Boris Johnson (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68e8fb0f57038b5739b98657/ACOBA_s_final_letter_re_breach_Better_Earth__BIA_Advisory.pdf) about breaching the Rules in relation to working with Better Earth and/or BIA Advisory. An accessible version of the correspondence is available here (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/johnson-boris-secretary-of-state-foreign-and-commonwealth-office-acoba/correspondence-to-boris-johnson-regarding-breaches-of-the-rules-better-earth-bia-advisory?preview=8894342).

ACOBA wrote to the Cabinet Office (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68e8ff5bcf65bd04bad76760/Letter_to_HMG_reporting_breach_to_Better_Earth__BIA_Advisory.pdf), as the owner of the Rules - reporting this. An accessible version of the correspondence is available here (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/johnson-boris-secretary-of-state-foreign-and-commonwealth-office-acoba/correspondence-from-acoba-to-the-cabinet-office-breaches-of-the-rules-better-earth-bia-advisory?preview=8894355).

Co-Chair, Better Earth Ltd

Boris Johnson sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment with Better Earth Ltd. The letter (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6633bb5c8603389a07a6d036/ACOBA_Advice-_Boris_Johnson-_Better_Earth.pdf) containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in April 2024 and the role was announced in May 2024. An accessible version of the correspondence is available here. (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/johnson-boris-secretary-of-state-foreign-and-commonwealth-office-acoba/advice-letter-boris-johnson-co-chair-better-earth-ltd?preview=7973143)

Merlyn Advisors Ltd

The Chair of ACOBA wrote to Boris Johnson about his failure to seek advice in relation to working with Merlyn Advisors Ltd. Read the correspondence between Boris Johnson and ACOBA about the breach here (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66222228cab76a6fd1757d3f/2024-04_-19_Chair_to_BJ_re_Breach_regarding_Merlyn_Advisors.pdf). An accessible version of the correspondence is available here. (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/johnson-boris-secretary-of-state-foreign-and-commonwealth-office-acoba/correspondence-from-acoba-to-boris-johnson-breach-of-the-rules-merlyn-advisors-ltd?preview=7948600)

ACOBA wrote to the Cabinet Office (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66214c26be5f81890e757d4a/_2024-04-19_Reporting_breach_to_HMG-_Mr_Johnson-Merlyn__1_.pdf) reporting this breach of the Rules. An accessible version of the correspondence is available here. (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/johnson-boris-secretary-of-state-foreign-and-commonwealth-office-acoba/letter-from-acoba-to-the-cabinet-office-regarding-breach-of-the-rules-merlyn-advisors-ltd?preview=7948614)

Presenter and Contributor, GB News.

Boris Johnson sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment with GB News. The letter (https://draft-assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/653a2fe580884d0013f71b78/2023-10-_Final_Advice_Letter-_BJ-_GB_News.pdf) containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in October 2023 and the role was announced later that month. An accessible version of the correspondence is available here. (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/johnson-boris-secretary-of-state-foreign-and-commonwealth-office-acoba/advice-letter-boris-johnson-presenter-and-contributor-gb-news?preview=7619510)

Member of the International Leadership Council, Center for European Policy Analysis

Boris Johnson sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment with the Center for European Policy Analysis. The letter (https://draft-assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65393e0380884d0013f71b2f/2023-10-25_ACOBA_Final_Advice_BJ-CEPA_unpaid__1_.pdf) containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in October 2023 and the position was announced later that month. An accessible version of the correspondence is available here. (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/johnson-boris-secretary-of-state-foreign-and-commonwealth-office-acoba/advice-letter-boris-johnson-center-for-european-policy-analysis?preview=7618916)

Daily Mail

The Chair of ACOBA wrote to Boris Johnson about his failure to seek advice in relation to joining the Daily Mail as a columnist. Read the correspondence between Boris Johnson and ACOBA about the Daily Mail (https://draft-assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1165574/Correspondence_to_Boris_Johnson_-_breach.pdf). An accessible version of the correspondence is available here. (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/johnson-boris-secretary-of-state-foreign-and-commonwealth-office-acoba/correspondence-from-acoba-to-boris-johnson-breach-of-the-rules-daily-mail?preview=7398478)

ACOBA wrote to the Cabinet Office (https://draft-assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1165575/Reporting_to_HMG_-_BJ.pdf) reporting this breach of the Rules. An accessible version of the correspondence is available here. (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/johnson-boris-secretary-of-state-foreign-and-commonwealth-office-acoba/letter-from-acoba-to-the-cabinet-office-regarding-breach-of-the-rules-daily-mail?preview=7398483) The government subsequently responsed to ACOBA (https://draft-assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1185500/2023-09-_DPM_letter_to_Lord_Pickles_on_Boris_Johnson.pdf) regarding this breach of the Rules. An accessible version of the correspondence is available here. (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/johnson-boris-secretary-of-state-foreign-and-commonwealth-office-acoba/correspondence-from-the-deputy-prime-minister-regarding-a-breach-of-the-rules?preview=7552378)

Speaker, Harry Walker Agency LLC

The Rt Hon Boris Johnson sought the Committee’s advice about taking up a role with the Harry Walker Agency. The letter (https://draft-assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1121833/ACOBA_Advice_Letter_-_Boris_Johnson__Speaker__Harry_Walker_Agency_LLC.pdf) containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in September 2022; and the appointment was taken up in December 2022. An accessible version of the letter is available here. (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/johnson-boris-secretary-of-state-foreign-and-commonwealth-office-acoba/advice-letter-boris-johnson-speaker-harry-walker-agency-llc?preview=7072828)

The Rt Hon Boris Johnson left his previous role as Foreign Secretary in July 2018.

Columnist, The Telegraph

The Committee wrote to Rt Hon Boris Johnson about his appointment with The Telegraph on 8 August 2018 (https://draft-assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/732866/180808_Boris_Johnson_The_Telegraph.pdf), refusing to give retrospective advice.

Jeremy Lee Associates

Boris Johnson sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment with Jeremy Lee Associates. The letter (https://draft-assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/748293/Johnson_-_JLA_-_Final_letter.pdf) containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in September 2018; and the appointment was taken up in October 2018.