London: Former British prime minister Boris Johnson has already earned more than £1 million ($1.2 million) for giving paid speeches since leaving office in September, according to an official register of UK parliamentarians’ interests.
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Famous for his rhetorical flourishes, Johnson has in recent months delivered speeches to bankers in New York, insurers in the United States, a summit organised by broadcaster CNN in Portugal, and another talk in India.
He received payments ranging from £215,000 to £277,000 ($267,000 to $344,000) each time, according to the official document published on the UK parliament’s website that lists lawmakers’ financial interests.
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Johnson, 58, left Downing Street after announcing his resignation in July following a series of scandals that tarnished his premiership, but still serves as an MP for the ruling Conservative party.
He attempted to make a spectacular political comeback after the rapid demise of his successor Liz Truss triggered another Conservative leadership contest, but Tory MPs backed his former finance minister Rishi Sunak instead.
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Johnson, who remains popular with Tory members, has not ruled out another bid for the top job, saying he was “well placed to deliver a Conservative victory in 2024” as the main opposition Labour party rides high in the polls.
