Boris Johnson broke Whitehall rules when he took up a newspaper column three days after resigning as Foreign Secretary
Mr Johnson told a Whitehall committee that he was only made aware of the rules after he signed the deal with The Daily Telegraph
BORIS JOHNSON was panned yesterday for breaching rules by taking up a newspaper column THREE DAYS after quitting as Foreign Secretary.
Whitehall officials said it was “unacceptable” the Uxbridge MP had signed with the Daily Telegraph without seeking clearance – or waiting three months.
The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments polices all ex-Ministerial jobs in a bid to stop them cashing in on their government work.
In a scathing verdict yesterday ACOBA revealed Mr Johnson only told them about the column on July 26 – two weeks after he signed the lucrative contract.
ACOBA chair Baroness Browning said: “The committee sees no reason why the minimum three month waiting period should not have been observed in this case.”
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But the body – which two years ago admitted it was largely toothless - conceded it had no power to punish him.
Mr Johnson told the committee that he had only received a letter from Foreign Office mandarins reminding him of his obligations after he signed the deal.
He quit as Foreign Secretary on June 9th in protest over Theresa May’s Brexit proposals.