Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has taken on a paid role as a presenter for GB News, a right-wing news channel, alongside notable figures like Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nigel Farage. The announcement, made on Friday, emphasized Johnson’s significant role in the channel’s coverage of upcoming events, including the UK general election and the US elections in the coming year.
While Johnson’s specific salary remains undisclosed, it is speculated to be in the six-figure range, similar to Rees-Mogg’s £350,000 per annum and Tory deputy chair Lee Anderson’s £100,000 annual compensation from the channel.
GB News is co-owned by hedge fund manager Sir Paul Marshall and Legatum, a Dubai-based investment firm, led by GB News chair Alan McCormick. Notably, Marshall is reportedly exploring a bid to acquire the Daily Telegraph, a former employer of Boris Johnson.
This move comes at a challenging time for GB News, marked by the suspension of presenters Dan Wootton and Laurence Fox last month. Fox had been criticized for making misogynistic remarks, which went unchallenged by Wootton. Moreover, GB News has faced criticism for its refusal to investigate separate allegations against Wootton, who denies using the pseudonym “Martin Branning” to send sexually explicit messages to former colleagues.
In addition to his new role, Boris Johnson already earns a substantial income as a columnist for the Daily Mail, and he has been highly sought after on the speaking circuit since his departure from 10 Downing Street over a year ago.
In a video shared on the GB News platform, Johnson expressed his enthusiasm for the channel, where he intends to share his “unvarnished views” on a range of topics, from international geopolitics to the future of ‘global Britain.’
GB News has garnered attention through high-profile political appointments from the right, including Farage, Rees-Mogg, and Anderson, as well as the employment of married Conservative MPs Philip Davies and Esther McVey.
Importantly, Johnson’s new role received approval from Whitehall’s appointments watchdog, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), which expressed no significant concerns regarding his involvement.
