Boris Johnson took personal jet to carry mysterious talks with Venezuelan dictator
Boris Johnson took a personal jet to Venezuela to satisfy the nation’s dictator President for mysterious talks, it has emerged.
The shamed former PM, who give up as an MP final 12 months, met with heavily-criticised chief Nicolas Maduro. Despite having no function in Government, Mr Johnson is claimed to have texted Foreign Secretary David Cameron on the way in which. His spokesman mentioned he pleaded Mr Maduro to embrace democracy and pressed him to not promote arms to Russia.
It raises questions on whether or not he’s angling for a return to the political frontline in a contemporary embarrassment for Rishi Sunak. Mr Johnson’s largest ally, Nadine Dorries, final evening claimed bringing him again may save as many as 80 Tory seats.
The former PM was on vacation within the Dominican Republic when the puzzling assembly happened final month, the Sunday Times reviews. Mr Johnson, who had been staying on the dwelling of a super-rich relative, messaged Lord Cameron on the way in which, it’s understood. It is unclear who instigated the talks, which noticed Mr Johnson keep near capital Caracas for lower than 24 hours.
Mr Johnson’s go to got here amid rising stress for Mr Maduro to carry correct democratic elections, six years after judges banned his opponents. Human rights teams have voiced their horror at his remedy of dissidents, and final month Venezuela kicked UN officers out of capital Caracas.
A spokesman for Mr Johnson mentioned: “ Boris Johnson met Venezuelan government officials with active support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the knowledge of the foreign secretary, in order to emphasise the need for Venezuela to embrace a proper democratic process.
“He repeatedly made clear there can be no hope of normalisation in relations until Venezuela fully embraces democracy and respects the territorial integrity of its neighbours. He also set out the case for the cause of Ukrainian victory to the government of Venezuela.”
A Foreign Office supply advised the Sunday Times: “It was a private visit but Boris texted the foreign secretary on the way.” It comes at a clumsy time for British relations with Venezuela, which has claimed sovereignty over oil-rich Guyana.
Mr Johnson is reported to have been staying on the dwelling of multimillionaire Sam Blyth, a distant cousin, who prevously assured an £800,000 mortgage. The controversy across the mortgage led to the resignation of their mutual pal Richard Sharp, former BBC chairman, who did not declare his function brokering the mortgage.
Mr Johnson’s newest intervention might be embarrassing for Rishi Sunak, who’s already battling dire ballot scores. Ms Dorries wrote in The Mail that solely her former boss can save the Tories from a walloping on the polls.
She wrote: “If Boris came back for the General Election it could save as many as 80 MPs. It would give Conservatives hope, a reason to vote. If we go into an election and Boris is out in the cold, voters will simply stay at home and sit on their hands.”
