UK: Boris Johnson to host GB News show

London: Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has signed up to join TV channel GB News.

Johnson, who stepped down as an MP earlier this year, will work for the news channel as a presenter, programme maker and commentator.

He will “play a key role” in coverage of the UK and US elections next year and will host a series “showcasing the power of Britain around the world”, the broadcaster said.

He promised to share his “unvarnished views” on a range of topics.

Johnson, who also writes a column for the Daily Mail, will start in the new year.

He is the latest Conservative politician to join the broadcaster, following former Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, party deputy chairman Lee Anderson, and husband-and-wife MPs Esther McVey and Philip Davies.

In a video posted on X, formerly Twitter, the former PM said: “I am excited to say that I am shortly going to be joining you on GB News.

“I’m going to be giving this remarkable new TV channel my unvarnished views on everything from Russia, China, the war in Ukraine, how we meet all those challenges.”

In a statement, he added: “I will be talking about the immense opportunities for Global Britain – as well as the challenges – and why our best days are yet to come.”

Johnson resigned as prime minister in 2022, following a mass revolt by ministers over his leadership.

This June, he announced he would stand down as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip in protest at a sanction recommended by Parliament’s privileges committee after it found he had lied to the House of Commons over Covid breaches in Downing Street during the pandemic.

Johnson’s actions and decision making as Prime Minister during the pandemic are currently being investigated as part of the ongoing Covid enquiry.

Former ministers are required to seek advice from the independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) about any employment they wish to take up within two years of leaving office.

After being approached by Johnson, the committee said taking up the role with GB News did not “raise any particular concerns under the government rules”.

However, it advised that Johnson should be subject to a number of conditions, including not drawing on any privileged material available to him from his time in office and not being personally involved in any lobbying of the government on behalf of GB News for two years from the date he stepped down as prime minister.

Earlier this year, Acoba said Johnson had committed an “unambiguous breach” of the ministerial code by not clearing his Daily Mail job with the committee.

Johnson is reported to have earned a large sum since leaving office, mostly for speaking at events and for securing a deal to write a memoir.

He becomes one of the latest big names to join GB News, following the announcement that actor John Cleese is also producing a 10-part current affairs series.

Johnson’s appearance on the news channel is expected to cause a ratings boost at a time when the channel is being investigated by the media regulator Ofcom.

They have launched an investigation into the Dan Wootton Tonight show, after Laurence Fox insulted journalist Ava Evans on his show.

The interaction attracted 7,300 complaints to Ofcom and saw Fox dropped by the channel.

Presenter Calvin Robinson was also sacked by the channel for voicing support for Fox online, whilst Wootton remains suspended.