Ex-PM Boris Johnson has kicked off his cashing-in crusade – by bunking off Parliament to give a £135,000 speech.
The shamed former premier was the star turn at a conference in Colorado Springs on Tuesday – while the Commons was in session 5,000 miles away.
The sitting MP told insurance brokers about a time he sneaked off with Germany’s Angela Merkel to share a bottle of Emmanuel Macron’s wine.
After a half-hour speech and 45-minute ‘fireside chat’ he is reported to have rejoined a family holiday. The speech is said to have paid over $150,000 (£135,000).
He missed a vote on repealing his National Insurance rise on Tuesday night, and was not seen at PMQs today.
The Mirror understands the Prime Minister is lining up a number of outside jobs once a three-month ban expires in December.
The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments watchdog (Acoba) is sifting through multiple requests that could top up his £84,144 salary as an MP.
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Labour MP and Standards Committee chairman Chris Bryant said: “Most of his constituents might be a bit perplexed that when the nation is in an economic crisis and families are facing hikes in food and energy costs and mortgages, Mr Johnson decides to take yet another holiday from parliament.”
The ex-PM spoke to the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers in Colorado Springs, US. He was paid and his earnings will be declared at a later date.
Mr Johnson has previously broken Acoba’s rules on ex-ministers taking outside work – but it is thought the Colorado speech was not a breach.
Recent former ministers must seek the watchdog’s permission for all outside work, and it is banned completely within three months of their resignation.
But “one-off” speeches, like the one in Colorado, are allowed under Acoba’s rules.
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It is thought Mr Johnson has assured officials his speech was a one-off.
But Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said: “ Boris Johnson might claim that this was just a one-off.
“But the rules state that ex-Ministers planning paid-for speaking gigs, joining agency circuits or scribing newspaper columns must submit an application before accepting them.
“The disgraced former Prime Minister and now part-time MP once again has questions to answer about whether he has followed the rules he was once responsible for.
“The anti-corruption watchdog was already toothless, but under the Tories, it’s been muzzled and neutered, leaving an open door to former Ministers who want to line their pockets as soon as they leave office.”
Meanwhile Premium Speakers agency in Zurich, Switzerland, deleted a page touting Mr Johnson’s services from its website today after the MP’s team insisted he had no relationship with them.
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It had boasted he was “elected with the largest personal mandate in British political history” as mayor of London. The record was since beaten by Sadiq Khan.
A source close to Mr Johnson confirmed he gave the speech on Tuesday and did not deny it paid over £135,000.
Before he resigned, Mr Johnson’s pal Lord Marland said he wanted to “go and put hay in the loft” after he left Downing Street.
The ex-PM wanted “to build up his bank balance so that he can afford to pay for the lifestyle that he has created,” the former trade envoy said.
After privately complaining of money worries as PM, Mr Johnson was due to trouser an £18,860 payout for leaving office.
And he will be able to access a £115,000-a-year fund for life, which is available to all ex-PMs for “necessary office costs arising from their special position”.
This week he set up The Office of Boris Johnson Ltd, a private firm, amid rumours of a potential comeback or a move to ally Nadine Dorries’ safe seat.
But a source insisted the new company will solely function as a private office to support him as a former PM through the £115,000-a-year fund.