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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Dave Burke

Boris Johnson to publish memoir 'like no other' of scandal-hit No10 spell

Boris Johnson has signed a lucrative book deal for a tell-all memoir about his scandal-plagued spell in Downing Street.

The shamed former Prime Minister - who was ousted in July after a massive rebellion by his own MPs - is expected to rake in millions from his agreement with HarperCollins Publishers.

It is the latest moneymaking deal the Tory MP has reached since returning to the backbenches, having made more than £1 million in speaking engagements in his first two months out of No10.

Announcing the book project this afternoon, Arabella Pike, who is working with the publisher, said: "This will be a Prime Ministerial memoir like no other."

The publisher declined to confirm how much Mr Johnson would be paid - but it is likely to be an eye-watering sum dwarfing the £100,000 Matt Hancock was reportedly paid for his Pandemic Diaries.

The former Prime Minister has agreed a deal for his memoirs, it was announced today (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Memoirs are a popular money-spinner for former PMs.

Tony Blair was paid a reported £4.6 million for his book back in 2007 - but donated the cash to charity - while Margaret Thatcher is understood to have netted £3.5 million way back in 1993.

In his book, Mr Johnson will undoubtedly share his take on Brexit and the Covid pandemic, as well as his humiliating exit.

It will give him a chance to share his views on colleagues including Rishi Sunak, whose resignation helped trigger his downfall.

Ms Pike continued: "I look forward to working with Boris Johnson as he writes his account of his time in office during some of the most momentous events the United Kingdom has seen in recent times."

The ex-PM has been raking in cash since he left office. He has declared more than £1 million in speaking fees since leaving office in September.

He trousered an astonishing £276,130 for a single speech for a speech in Colorado Springs in October - while the Commons was in session 5,000 miles away.

The book will give Mr Johnson a chance to share his view on Tory colleagues including Rishi Sunak (AFP via Getty Images)

On November 17, he was paid £261,652.34 by the Hindustan Times for a speech in Delhi, followed six days later by a payment of £215,275.98 by Televisao Independente for a speech at the CNN Global Summit in Lisbon, Portugal.

Last week The Mirror revealed he is living in a £20 million home owned by the wife of Tory donor Lord Bamford.

And it was claimed at the weekend that big spender Mr Johnson’s distant Canadian cousin helped him access an £800,000 credit facility and a luxury villa in the Caribbean.

With a costly divorce from ex-wife Marina and at least seven children, Boris Johnson has repeatedly relied on benefactor.

He asked for the help of a Tory donor, Lord Brownlow, for a £112,000 revamp of the Downing Street flat - before funding it from his own pocket after an outcry.

Likewise he and wife Carrie have been having their accommodation bankrolled by billionaire Tory donor Lord Bamford since he was booted from office.

It won't be the first time Mr Johnson dips his toe in the literary world, having published a bestselling biography of Winston Churchill, as well as an illustrated children's book named The Perils of Pushy Parents.

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