90-519: 1980s 1990s The Ballymurphy massacre was a series of incidents between 9 and 11 August 1971, in which the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment of the British Army killed eleven civilians in Ballymurphy, Belfast , Northern Ireland, as part of Operation Demetrius ( internment without trial). The shootings were later referred to as Belfast's Bloody Sunday, a reference to the killing of civilians by
180-477: A Labour Party safe seat . Spending six weeks campaigning, he attained 9,091 votes (23 per cent) in the 1997 general election , losing to Labour candidate Martyn Jones . Scandal erupted in June 1995 when a recording of a 1990 telephone conversation between Johnson and his friend Darius Guppy was made public. In it, Guppy said that his criminal activities involving insurance fraud were being investigated by News of
270-768: A war reporter , instead promoting him to assistant editor and chief political columnist. Johnson's column received praise for being ideologically eclectic and distinctively written, and earned him Commentator of the Year Award at the What the Papers Say awards. Some critics condemned his writing style as bigotry; in columns he used the words " piccaninnies " and " watermelon smiles " when referring to Africans, championed European colonialism in Uganda and referred to gay men as "tank-topped bumboys". In 1993, Johnson outlined his desire to run as
360-510: A Conservative in the 1994 European Parliament elections . Andrew Mitchell convinced Major not to veto Johnson's candidacy, but Johnson could not find a constituency. He turned his attention to obtaining a seat in the House of Commons instead. After being rejected as Conservative candidate for Holborn and St. Pancras , he was selected the Conservative candidate for Clwyd South in north Wales, then
450-519: A charitable cause. Johnson resented this, and ultimately did not pay the full 20%. Controversy erupted when on the BBC 's HARDtalk he referred to the £250,000 salary as "chicken feed"; this was at the time approximately 10 times the average yearly wage for a British worker. During his first administration, Johnson was embroiled in several personal scandals. After moving to a new house in Islington, he built
540-495: A four-year course in Classics, ancient languages, literature, history, and philosophy. Matriculating in late 1983, he was one of a generation of Oxford undergraduates who dominated British politics and media in the early 21st century, including Cameron, William Hague , Michael Gove , Jeremy Hunt and Nick Boles . While at Oxford, Johnson joined the college's rugby union team as a tighthead prop . To his later regret, he joined
630-554: A job with a policy panel on population control , and moved the family to Norwalk, Connecticut , in June. A third child, Leo, was born in September 1967. The family returned to the UK in 1969, and lived at West Nethercote Farm, Somerset, Stanley's family home in Exmoor . His father was regularly absent, leaving Johnson to be raised largely by his mother, assisted by au pairs . As a child, Johnson
720-563: A kid I was extremely spotty, extremely nerdy and horribly swotty . My idea of a really good time was to travel across London on the tube to visit the British Museum . — Boris Johnson Johnson gained a King's Scholarship to study at Eton College , a boarding school near Windsor, Berkshire . Arriving in the autumn term of 1977, he began going by his middle name Boris, and developed "the eccentric English persona" for which he became famous. He denounced Catholicism and joined
810-606: A later edition of his 2005 book The Dream of Rome , Tell MAMA and the Muslim Council of Britain criticised Johnson for arguing Islam has caused the Muslim world to be "literally centuries behind" the West. The selection of Boris Johnson ... confirms the Tory Party's increasing weakness for celebrity personalities over the dreary exigencies of politics. Johnson, for all his gifts,
900-784: A more socially liberal attitude, supporting the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and the repeal of Section 28 . However, in 2001, Johnson had spoken out against plans to repeal Section 28, saying it was "Labour's appalling agenda, encouraging the teaching of homosexuality in schools". After initially stating he would not, he supported the government's plans to join the United States in the 2003 invasion of Iraq , and in April 2003 visited occupied Baghdad. In August 2004, he backed unsuccessful impeachment procedures against Prime Minister Tony Blair for " high crimes and misdemeanours " regarding
990-595: A private lunch at the Spectator in 1999 and that another woman had told her he had done the same to her. A spokesman denied the allegation. In 2004, Johnson published an editorial in The Spectator after the murder of Ken Bigley suggesting that Liverpudlians were wallowing in their victim status and "hooked on grief" over the Hillsborough disaster , which Johnson partly blamed on "drunken fans". In an appendix added to
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#17328513678581080-462: A quote which he falsely attributed to the historian Colin Lucas , his godfather. After the paper's editor, Charles Wilson , learnt of the matter, he dismissed Johnson. Johnson secured employment on the lead-writing desk of The Daily Telegraph , having met its editor, Max Hastings , while at university. His articles appealed to the newspaper's Conservative-voting " Middle England " readership, and he
1170-590: A relationship with childhood friend Marina Wheeler , who had moved to Brussels in 1990. They were married in May 1993. Soon after, Marina gave birth to a daughter. Johnson and his new wife settled in Islington , north London, an area known for its association with the left-liberal intelligentsia . Under the influence of this milieu and of his wife, Johnson moved in a more liberal direction on issues such as climate change , LGBT rights and race relations. While in Islington,
1260-598: A result, he earned the mistrust of many party members. His writings were also a key influence on the emergence of the eurosceptic UK Independence Party (UKIP) in the early 1990s. Conrad Black , then proprietor of The Daily Telegraph , said Johnson "was such an effective correspondent for us in Brussels that he greatly influenced British opinion on this country's relations with Europe". In February 1990, Johnson's wife Allegra broke up with him; after several attempts at reconciliation, their marriage ended in April 1993. He began
1350-425: A shed without obtaining planning permission ; after neighbours complained, he dismantled it. The press also accused him of having an affair with Helen Macintyre and of fathering her child, allegations that he did not deny. Johnson was accused of warning Damian Green that police were planning to arrest him; Johnson denied the claims. He was accused of cronyism , in particular for appointing Veronica Wadley as
1440-601: A snap general election to be held in December 2019, in which he won a landslide victory . During Johnson's premiership , the government responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by introducing various emergency powers to mitigate its impact and approved a nationwide vaccination programme . He also responded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by imposing sanctions on Russia and authorising foreign aid and weapons shipments to Ukraine. In
1530-567: Is a British politician and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2019 to 2022. He was previously Foreign Secretary from 2016 to 2018 and Mayor of London from 2008 to 2016. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Henley from 2001 to 2008 and for Uxbridge and South Ruislip from 2015 to 2023. In his youth Johnson attended Eton College and Balliol College, Oxford , and he
1620-723: Is a laugh." The campaign of Labour incumbent Ken Livingstone portrayed Johnson as an out-of-touch toff and bigot. In the election, Johnson received 43% and Livingstone 37% of first-preference votes; when second-preference votes were added, Johnson was victorious with 53% to Livingstone's 47%. Johnson subsequently announced his intention to stand down as MP for Henley. After Johnson became mayor, those in City Hall deemed too closely allied to Livingstone's administration had their employment terminated. Johnson appointed Tim Parker as his deputy mayor, but after Parker began taking increasing control at City Hall, Johnson dismissed him. Many in
1710-563: Is a special forces battalion of the British Army 's Parachute Regiment . Along with various other regiments and corps from across the British Armed Forces, it is part of Special Forces Support Group . A specialized airborne light infantry unit, the battalion as of 2006 has been the main contributor of manpower to the British Army's Parachute Regiment and is capable of a wide range of operations. Personnel regularly deploy outside
1800-555: Is confiscating their toys. It is like one of those vast Indian programmes of compulsory vasectomy ." According to one of his biographers, Sonia Purnell , – who was Johnson's Brussels deputy – he helped make Euroscepticism "an attractive and emotionally resonant cause for the Right", whereas it had been associated previously with the Left. Johnson's articles exacerbated tensions between the Conservative Party's Eurosceptic and Europhile factions. As
1890-409: Is unlikely to grace any future Tory cabinet. Indeed, he is not known for his excessive interest in serious policy matters, and it is hard to see him grubbing away at administrative detail as an obscure, hardworking junior minister for social security. To maintain his funny man reputation he will no doubt find himself refining his Bertie Wooster interpretation to the point where the impersonation becomes
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#17328513678581980-409: The 2005 general election , Johnson was re-elected MP for Henley. Labour won the election and Howard stood down as Conservative leader; Johnson backed David Cameron as his successor. After Cameron was elected, he appointed Johnson as the shadow higher education minister. Interested in streamlining university funding, Johnson supported Labour's proposed top-up fees . He campaigned in 2006 to become
2070-627: The 2008 United States presidential election . Johnson appointed himself chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), and in October 2008 successfully pushed for the resignation of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair , after Blair was criticised for allegedly handing contracts to friends and for his handling of the death of Jean Charles de Menezes . This earned Johnson respect among Conservatives, who interpreted it as his first act of strength. Johnson resigned as chairman of
2160-432: The 2012 Olympic Games , but was accused of trying to take credit for them. He introduced a public bicycle scheme that had been mooted by Livingstone's administration; colloquially known as " Boris Bikes ", the part privately financed system was a significant financial loss but proved popular. Despite Johnson's support of cycling, and his much-publicised identity as a cyclist, some cycling groups argued he had failed to make
2250-540: The Bullingdon Club , an exclusive drinking society notorious for vandalism. Many years later, a group photograph including himself and Cameron in Bullingdon Club formal dress led to much negative press coverage. While at Oxford, he began a relationship with Allegra Mostyn-Owen , cover girl for Tatler magazine and daughter of Christie's Education chairman William Mostyn-Owen . They became engaged. Johnson
2340-657: The Church of England . School reports complained about his idleness, complacency, and lateness, but he was popular at Eton. Johnson's friends were largely from the wealthy upper classes; his best friends were Darius Guppy and Charles Spencer . Both would go on to accompany him at the University of Oxford and remained his friends into adulthood. Johnson excelled in English and the Classics , winning prizes in both, and became secretary of
2430-655: The European School, Brussels I and learnt to speak French. Charlotte had a nervous breakdown and was hospitalised with depression, after which Johnson and his siblings were sent back to the UK in 1975 to attend Ashdown House , a preparatory boarding school in East Sussex. There, he developed interests in rugby , Ancient Greek , and Latin . In December 1978 his parents' relationship broke down; they divorced in 1980, and Charlotte moved to Notting Hill , London, where her children joined her for much of their time. As
2520-633: The London School of Economics . In 1970, Charlotte and the children briefly returned to Nethercote, where Johnson attended Winsford Village School, before returning to London to settle in Primrose Hill , where they were educated at Primrose Hill Primary School. A fourth child, Joseph , was born in late 1971. After Stanley secured employment at the European Commission in April 1973, he moved his family to Uccle , Brussels, where Johnson attended
2610-680: The NATO operation in Kosovo in 1999, Operation Agricola . In 2003, they were deployed to the Persian Gulf for Operation Telic in Iraq where two multiples of No. 8 platoon fought their way out of the town of Majar al-Kabir . The battle occurred in June 2003, following the invasion of Iraq . During the battle, six Royal Military Policemen of 156 Provost Company were killed by a mob. Boris Johnson Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (born 19 June 1964)
2700-612: The Northern Ireland Executive . The Stormont first minister Arlene Foster of the Democratic Unionist Party deferred a bid for extra funding for inquests into historic killings in Northern Ireland, a decision condemned by the human rights group Amnesty International . Foster confirmed she had used her influence in the devolved power-sharing executive to hold back finance for a backlog of inquests connected to
2790-669: The Partygate scandal it was found that numerous parties had been held at 10 Downing Street during national COVID-19 lockdowns , and COVID-19 social distancing laws were breached by 83 individuals, including Johnson, who in April 2022 was issued with a fixed penalty notice . The publishing of the Sue Gray report in May 2022 and a widespread sense of dissatisfaction led in June 2022 to a vote of confidence in his leadership amongst Conservative MPs, which he won. In July 2022, revelations over his appointment of Chris Pincher as deputy chief whip of
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2880-604: The Rector of the University of Edinburgh , but his support for top-up fees damaged his campaign, and he came third. In April 2006, the News of the World alleged that Johnson was having an affair with journalist Anna Fazackerley; the pair did not comment, and shortly afterwards Johnson began employing Fazackerley. In September 2006, Papua New Guinea's High Commission protested after he compared
2970-600: The articulated buses with an updated version of the AEC Routemaster . Targeting the Conservative-leaning suburbs of outer London , it capitalised on perceptions that the Labour Mayoralty had neglected them in favour of inner London . His campaign emphasised his popularity, even among those who opposed his policies, with opponents complaining a common attitude among voters was: "I'm voting for Boris because he
3060-505: The fighting in Normandy numerous plans to drop the 1st Airborne were formed, none of which came to fruition. Finally, in September 1944, the battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel David Dobie , dropped into Arnhem the Netherlands with the rest of the 1st Airborne Division, as part of Operation Market Garden , where they suffered extremely heavy casualties and never saw combat again for
3150-484: The financial crisis of 2007–08 , condemning the anti-capitalist Occupy London movement that appeared in 2011. He collected donations from the city's wealthy for a charitable enterprise, the Mayor's Fund, which he had established to aid disadvantaged youths. It initially announced the fund would raise £100 million, but by 2010 it had only earnt £1.5 million. He also maintained extensive personal contacts throughout
3240-623: The 11th death were not part of the inquest, since Paddy McCarthy died from a heart attack, allegedly after being threatened by a soldier. Following the inquest verdict, Boris Johnson , the British prime minister, apologised for the deaths at Ballymurphy in a phone call to Foster and deputy first minister Michelle O'Neill . The lack of public apology was criticised by some relatives of the victims and Northern Irish politicians. In May 2021 families of those shot dead by British soldiers in Ballymurphy urged
3330-511: The British Army, includes a disputed account of the shootings in his autobiography, stating that those killed in the shootings were republican gunmen. This claim was strongly denied by the families of those killed in the shootings, including in interviews conducted during the documentary film The Ballymurphy Precedent . The claim was found to be without basis by a later coroner's inquest, which established that those killed were "entirely innocent". Six civilians were killed on 9 August: One civilian
3420-525: The British media, which resulted in widespread favourable press coverage of his administration. In turn he remained largely supportive of his friends in the media, including Rupert Murdoch , during the News International phone hacking scandal . The formation of the Forensic Audit Panel was announced on 8 May 2008. The panel was tasked with monitoring and investigating financial management at
3510-565: The Commons on numerous occasions. Johnson resigned his position as MP the same day. Johnson is a controversial figure in British politics. His supporters have praised him for being humorous, witty and entertaining, with an appeal reaching beyond traditional Conservative Party voters, viewing him as an electoral asset to the party. Conversely, his critics have accused him of lying, elitism , cronyism and bigotry . During his premiership his supporters praised him for " getting Brexit done ", overseeing
3600-513: The Conservative Party initially distanced themselves from Johnson's administration, fearing it would be damaging for the 2010 general election . During the campaign, Johnson had confided to Brian Paddick he was unsure how he would maintain his lifestyle on the mayoral salary of £140,000 a year. He agreed to continue his Daily Telegraph column, thus earning a further £250,000 a year. His team believed this would cause controversy and made him promise to donate 20% of his Daily Telegraph salary to
3690-479: The Conservatives' frequently changing leadership to cannibalism in the country . In 2005, The Spectator ' s new chief executive, Andrew Neil , dismissed Johnson as editor. To make up for this loss of income, Johnson negotiated with The Daily Telegraph to raise his salary from £200,000 to £250,000, averaging £5,000 per column. He presented a popular history television show, The Dream of Rome , which
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3780-548: The Irish government to oppose any attempt to prevent the prosecution of British soldiers alleged to have committed crimes during the Troubles. The killings are the subject of the August 2018 documentary The Ballymurphy Precedent , directed by Callum Macrae and made in association with Channel 4 . 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment The 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment (1 PARA),
3870-719: The MPA in January 2010, but throughout his mayoralty was highly supportive of the Metropolitan Police, particularly during the controversy surrounding the death of Ian Tomlinson . Overall crime in London fell during his administration, but his claim that serious youth crime had decreased proved to be false, and he acknowledged the error. He was criticised for his response to the 2011 London riots . Johnson championed London's financial sector and denounced what he saw as "banker bashing" following
3960-676: The Stump , recounted that year's election campaign, while 2003's Lend Me Your Ears collected previously published columns and articles. In 2004, HarperCollins published his first novel: Seventy-Two Virgins: A Comedy of Errors revolved around the life of a Conservative MP and contained autobiographical elements. Responding to criticism that he was juggling too many jobs, he cited Winston Churchill and Benjamin Disraeli as exemplars who combined political and literary careers. To manage stress, he took up jogging and cycling, and became so well known for
4050-418: The UK's COVID-19 vaccination programme, which was amongst the fastest in the world, and being one of the first world leaders to offer humanitarian support to Ukraine following the Russian invasion of the country. His tenure also encompassed several controversies and scandals, and is viewed as the most scandalous premiership of modern times by historians and biographers alike. Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson
4140-798: The United Kingdom on operations and training, 1 PARA is part of Special Forces Support Group and regarded as the elite of the Parachute Regiment deployed to assist United Kingdom Special Forces in a supporting role as well as being the main part of the hunter force on SF selection. All personnel complete the Pre Parachute Selection ( P Company ) course at the Infantry Training Centre Catterick Garrison , North Yorkshire (previously at Aldershot , Hampshire ). The 1st Battalion can trace its origins to 1940, when No. 2 Commando trained as parachutists. In 1941,
4230-586: The United States ) . Johnson's parents returned to the UK in September 1964 so Charlotte could study at the University of Oxford . She lived with her son in Summertown, Oxford , and in September 1965 she gave birth to a daughter, Rachel . In July 1965, the family moved to Crouch End in north London , and in February 1966 they relocated to Washington, DC, where Stanley worked with the World Bank . Stanley then took
4320-408: The World journalist Stuart Collier, and he asked Johnson to provide him with Collier's private address, seeking to have the latter beaten. Johnson agreed, although he expressed concern that he would be associated with the attack. When the phone conversation was published, Johnson stated that ultimately he had not obliged Guppy's request. Hastings reprimanded Johnson but did not dismiss him. Johnson
4410-571: The army with barricades , petrol bombs and gunfire. In the Catholic district of Ballymurphy , ten civilians were shot and killed between the evening of 9 August and the morning of 11 August, while another died of heart failure. Members of the Parachute Regiment stated that they were shot at by republicans as they entered the Ballymurphy area and returned fire. The press officer for the British Army stationed in Belfast, Mike Jackson , later to become head of
4500-553: The battalion carried out the Bloody Sunday killings, when they opened fire on unarmed protesters in Derry , leaving 14 Catholic civilians dead and 13 wounded; the greatest killing of British subjects by government forces in one incident since the Irish War of Independence . The second official inquiry of the killings found 1st Para's actions "unjustified and unjustifiable". To date, none of
4590-449: The battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Down , was assigned to the 1st Parachute Brigade which also included the 2nd and 3rd Parachute Battalions . The 1st Parachute Brigade was part of the 1st Airborne Division and remained with it throughout the war. The battalion took part in operations in Tunisia in late 1942 to May 1943, suffering heavy casualties. The battalion and
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#17328513678584680-629: The brigade took part in Operation Fustian , when the Allies invaded Sicily and, again, suffered heavy casualties and was withdrawn to England in late 1943 to train and prepare for the Allied invasion of France . The battalion was not used in the initial invasion on 6 June 1944, D-Day , but was held back in the UK in reserve in case any of the five invasion beaches encountered serious difficulties and needed support. The plan turned out not to be required. During
4770-485: The chair of London's Arts Council . In the parliamentary expenses scandal , he was accused of excessive expenses claims for taxis. Johnson remained a popular figure in London with a strong celebrity status in the city. Johnson made no major changes to the mayoral system of the previous administration. However, he did reverse several other measures implemented by Livingstone: ending the city's oil deal with Venezuela, abolishing The Londoner newsletter, and scrapping
4860-420: The city's few Eurosceptic journalists. He wrote articles about euromyths : that Brussels had recruited sniffer dogs to ensure that all manure smelt the same, they were about to dictate the acceptable curve of British bananas, limit the power of their vacuum cleaners and order women to return their old sex toys. He wrote that euro notes made people impotent and that a plan to blow up the Berlaymont building
4950-513: The city's roads safer for cyclists. As per his election pledge, he commissioned the development of the New Routemaster buses for central London. He also ordered the construction of a cable car system that crossed the River Thames between the Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks . Johnson's first policy initiative was a ban on drinking alcohol on public transport. He announced plans to extend pay-as-you-go Oyster cards to national rail services in London. A pledge in Johnson's manifesto
5040-424: The conflict. The High Court said her decision to refuse to put a funding paper on the Executive basis was "unlawful and procedurally flawed". In January 2018, the coroner's office announced that the inquest would begin in September 2018. On 11 May 2021, this coroner's inquest found that the 10 civilians killed were innocent, and that the use of lethal force by the British Army was "not justified". The circumstances of
5130-594: The control of the Royal Ulster Constabulary . On the morning of Monday 9 August 1971, the security forces launched Operation Demetrius , the main focus of which was to arrest and intern suspected members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). The Parachute Regiment was selected to carry out the operation. The operation was chaotic and informed by poor intelligence, resulting in many innocent people being interned. By focusing solely on republicans , it excluded violence carried out by loyalist paramilitaries . Some nationalist neighbourhoods attempted to disrupt
5220-402: The couple had three more children, all given the surname Johnson-Wheeler. They were sent to the local Canonbury Primary School and then to private secondary schools. Devoting much time to his children, Johnson wrote a book of verse, The Perils of the Pushy Parents: A Cautionary Tale , which was published to largely poor reviews. Back in London, Hastings turned down Johnson's request to become
5310-501: The crowds at the Hillsborough disaster had contributed to the incident and that Liverpudlians had a predilection for reliance on the welfare state . In November 2004, the tabloids revealed that since 2000 Johnson had been having an affair with Spectator columnist Petronella Wyatt , resulting in two abortions. Johnson denied the allegations but they were subsequently proven to be true, and Howard dismissed him as vice-chairman and shadow arts minister when he refused to resign. At
5400-412: The eyewitness evidence of a private in the Parachute Regiment. The case was referred to court because the sole witness retracted his evidence. In 2016, Sir Declan Morgan , the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland , recommended an inquest into the killings as one of a series of "legacy inquests" covering 56 cases related to the Troubles. These inquests were delayed, as funding had not been approved by
5490-515: The half-yearly inspections of black cabs , which was reinstated three years later. Abolishing the western wing of the congestion charging zone, he cancelled plans to increase the congestion charge for four-wheel-drive vehicles . He was subsequently accused of failing to publish an independent report on air pollution commissioned by the Greater London Authority , which revealed the city breached legal limits on nitrogen dioxide levels. Johnson retained Livingstone projects such as Crossrail and
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#17328513678585580-402: The latter that Gimson suggested he was "perhaps the most famous cyclist in Britain". Following William Hague 's resignation as Conservative leader, the party elected Iain Duncan Smith . Johnson had a strained relationship with Duncan Smith, and The Spectator became critical of his party leadership. Duncan Smith was succeeded by Michael Howard in November 2003; Howard deemed Johnson to be
5670-407: The local air ambulance . In Parliament, Johnson was appointed to a standing committee assessing the Proceeds of Crime Bill , but missed many of its meetings. Despite his credentials as a public speaker, his speeches in the House of Commons were widely deemed lacklustre. He attended around half of Commons votes, usually supporting the Conservative party line . In free votes , he demonstrated
5760-419: The local area. Assisted by his television fame, Johnson won the seat in the 2001 general election . Alongside his Islington home, Johnson bought a farmhouse outside Thame in his new constituency. He regularly attended Henley social events and occasionally wrote for the Henley Standard . His constituency surgeries proved popular, and he joined local campaigns to stop the closure of Townlands Hospital and
5850-650: The magazine's circulation grew by 10% to 62,000 and it became profitable. His editorship also drew criticism; some opined that under him The Spectator avoided serious issues, while colleagues became annoyed that he was regularly absent from the office, meetings, and events. He gained a reputation as a poor political pundit because of incorrect political predictions. His father-in-law Charles Wheeler and others strongly criticised him for allowing Spectator columnist Taki Theodoracopulos to publish racist and antisemitic language. Journalist Charlotte Edwardes wrote in The Times in 2019 that Johnson had squeezed her thigh at
5940-425: The man. –Max Hastings, London Evening Standard , Following Michael Heseltine 's retirement, Johnson decided to stand as Conservative candidate for Henley , a Conservative safe seat in Oxfordshire . The local Conservative branch selected him although it was split over Johnson's candidacy. Some thought him amusing and charming while others disliked his flippant attitude and perceived lack of knowledge of
6030-406: The members of 1 Para have been prosecuted. The battalion was involved in another controversial shooting incident on 7 September 1972, when soldiers shot dead two Protestant civilians and wounded others in the Shankill area of Belfast. A unit of the Army's Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) refused to carry out duties until the battalion was withdrawn from the Shankill. The battalion was involved in
6120-416: The most popular Conservative politician with the electorate and appointed him vice-chairman of the party, responsible for overseeing its electoral campaign. In his Shadow Cabinet reshuffle of May 2004, Howard appointed Johnson as shadow arts minister. In October, Howard ordered Johnson to apologise publicly in Liverpool for publishing a Spectator article – anonymously written by Simon Heffer – which said
6210-474: The party while knowing of allegations of sexual misconduct against him led to a mass resignation of members of his government and to Johnson announcing his resignation as prime minister. He was succeeded as prime minister by Liz Truss , his foreign secretary. He remained in the House of Commons as a backbencher until June 2023, when he received the draft of the Commons Privileges Committee investigation into his conduct that unanimously found that he had lied to
6300-422: The position in 2018 in protest at both the Chequers Agreement and May's approach to Brexit. Johnson succeeded May as prime minister. He re-opened Brexit negotiations with the EU and in early September he prorogued Parliament ; the Supreme Court later ruled the prorogation to have been unlawful. After agreeing to a revised Brexit withdrawal agreement but failing to win parliamentary support , Johnson called
6390-412: The rest of the war. After the war the battalion was reconstituted in 1946, and affiliated to the Brigade of Guards and served with the 6th Airborne Division in Palestine . It was disbanded in 1948, only to be reformed by the renumbering of the 4th/6th Battalion. The battalion was part of Operation Musketeer in 1956. They also took part in operations against EOKA during the Cyprus emergency during
6480-485: The same battalion in Derry a few months later, known as Bloody Sunday . The 1972 inquests had returned an open verdict on all of the killings, but a 2021 coroner's report found that all those killed had been innocent and that the killings were "without justification". Belfast was particularly affected by political and sectarian violence during the early part of the Troubles . The British Army had been deployed in Northern Ireland in 1969 , as events had become beyond
6570-654: The same period. In the 1970s, the battalion first deployed to Northern Ireland in Operation Banner . The battalion was involved in the Ballymurphy Massacre in August 1971, when 11 Catholic civilians were shot dead and many wounded over a two-day period. In January 1972, both the press and some in the Army accused the battalion of brutality against protesters outside Magilligan internment camp . A week later, under Lieutenant Colonel Derek Wilford , on 30 January 1972,
6660-463: The school debating society and editor of the school newspaper. In late 1981, he became a member of Pop , a small, self-selecting elite group of school prefects. After leaving Eton, Johnson went on a gap year to Australia, where he taught English and Latin at Timbertop , an Outward Bound -inspired campus of Geelong Grammar , an independent boarding school. Johnson won a scholarship to read Literae humaniores at Balliol College, Oxford ,
6750-498: The war, and in December 2006 described the invasion as "a colossal mistake and misadventure". Although labelling Johnson "ineffably duplicitous" for breaking his promise not to become an MP, Black decided not to dismiss him because he "helped promote the magazine and raise its circulation". Johnson remained editor of The Spectator , while also writing columns for The Daily Telegraph and GQ , and making television appearances. His 2001 book, Friends, Voters, Countrymen: Jottings on
6840-522: Was elected mayor of London in 2008 and resigned from the House of Commons to focus his attention on the mayoralty. He was re-elected mayor in 2012 , but did not run for re-election in 2016 . At the 2015 general election he was elected MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip. Johnson was a prominent figure in the Brexit campaign in the 2016 EU membership referendum . After the referendum Prime Minister Theresa May appointed him foreign secretary. He resigned from
6930-487: Was awarded an upper second-class degree, and was deeply unhappy he did not receive a first. In September 1987, Johnson and Mostyn-Owen married. They settled in West Kensington , London. In late 1987, through family connections, he began work as a graduate trainee at The Times . Scandal erupted when Johnson wrote an article for the newspaper on the archaeological discovery of Edward II 's palace, having invented
7020-510: Was born on 19 June 1964 in the Upper East Side of Manhattan , New York City, to Stanley Johnson , then studying economics at Columbia University , and Charlotte Fawcett , an artist, whose father Sir James Fawcett , was a prominent barrister and president of the European Commission of Human Rights from 1972 to 1981. Johnson is one of only two British prime ministers to have been an American citizen (see Honorary citizenship of
7110-426: Was broadcast in January 2006; a book followed in February. A sequel, After Rome , focused on early Islamic history. In 2007, he earned £540,000, making him the third-highest-earning MP that year. In September, Johnson was selected as the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London after a public London-wide primary . Johnson's campaign focused on reducing youth crime, making public transport safer, and replacing
7200-467: Was consistently late delivering copy, forcing staff to stay late to accommodate him; some related that if they published without his work, he would shout at them with expletives. Johnson's April 1998 appearance on the BBC's satirical current affairs show Have I Got News for You brought him national fame. He was invited back on to later episodes, including as a guest presenter; for his 2003 appearance, Johnson
7290-519: Was elected president of the Oxford Union in 1986. In 1989 he began writing for The Daily Telegraph , and from 1999 to 2005 he was the editor of The Spectator . He became a member of the Shadow Cabinet of Michael Howard in 2001 before being dismissed over a claim that he had lied about an extramarital affair. After Howard resigned Johnson became a member of David Cameron 's Shadow Cabinet . He
7380-505: Was given a regular column in The Spectator , sister publication to The Daily Telegraph , which attracted mixed reviews and was often thought rushed. In 1999, he was also given a column reviewing new cars in the American men's monthly magazine GQ . The large number of parking fines that Johnson acquired while testing cars frustrated staff. At The Daily Telegraph and The Spectator , he
7470-501: Was in place because asbestos cladding made the building too dangerous to inhabit. Many of his fellow journalists were critical of his articles, saying they often contained lies designed to discredit the commission. The Europhile Conservative politician Chris Patten later said that Johnson was "one of the greatest exponents of fake journalism". Johnson opposed banning handguns after the Dunblane school massacre , writing in his column "Nanny
7560-478: Was killed on 10 August: Another three civilians were shot on 11 August: An eleventh civilian died on 11 August, following an altercation with a group of soldiers: In February 2015, the conviction of Terry Laverty, younger brother of John Laverty, one of those killed, was quashed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission . He had been convicted of riotous behaviour and sentenced to six months on
7650-463: Was known for his distinctive literary style, replete with old-fashioned phrasing and for regularly referring to the readership as "my friends". In early 1989, Johnson was appointed to the newspaper's Brussels bureau to report on the European Commission, remaining in the post until 1994. A strong critic of the integrationist Commission president Jacques Delors , he established himself as one of
7740-664: Was nominated for the BAFTA Television Award for Best Entertainment Performance . After these appearances, he came to be recognised on the street, and was invited to appear on other shows, such as Top Gear , Parkinson , Breakfast with Frost , and Question Time . In July 1999, Conrad Black offered Johnson the editorship of The Spectator on the condition he abandon his parliamentary aspirations; Johnson agreed. While retaining The Spectator ' s traditional right-wing bent, Johnson welcomed contributions from leftist writers and cartoonists. Under Johnson's editorship,
7830-495: Was perceived as having moved leftward on certain issues, supporting the London Living Wage and endorsing an amnesty for illegal migrants. He tried placating critics who had deemed him a bigot by appearing at London's gay pride parade and praising ethnic minority newspapers. Johnson broke from the traditional protocol of those in public office not publicly commenting on other nations' elections by endorsing Barack Obama for
7920-494: Was popular and well known at Oxford. Alongside Guppy, he edited the university's satirical magazine Tributary . In 1984, Johnson was elected secretary of the Oxford Union , and campaigned unsuccessfully for the position of Union President . In 1986, Johnson ran successfully for President, but his term was not distinguished or memorable, and questions were raised regarding his competence and seriousness. At graduation, Johnson
8010-423: Was quiet, studious, and deaf, resulting in several operations to insert grommets into his ears. He and his siblings were encouraged to engage in intellectual activities from a young age. Johnson's earliest recorded ambition was to be "world king". Having no other friends, the siblings became very close. In late 1969, the family moved to Maida Vale in west London, while Stanley began post-graduate research at
8100-513: Was to retain Tube ticket offices, in opposition to Livingstone's proposal to close up to 40. On 2 July 2008, the Mayor's office announced the closure plan was to be abandoned. On 21 November 2013, Transport for London announced that all London Underground ticket offices would close by 2015. In financing these projects, Johnson's administration borrowed £100 million, while public transport fares were increased by 50%. During his first term, Johnson
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