Boris Johnson was paid $328,234 by Rupert Murdoch for Montana trip

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After Boris Johnson traveled to the state of Montana at the request of Australian-American billionaire Rupert Murdoch. The amount of £276,130 ($328,234) plus expenses show up in the former PM's account for a speech done in the US.

The former UK PM's register of interests, which all MPs are required to update every month, provides details of his travel to Montana for a business meeting on October 11. 

The detailed entry exhibits that expenses pertaining to Johnson’s domestic travel inside the US were taken care of by Murdoch alongside “accommodation and hospitality” provided to him and two staff members at a whopping value of £11,559 ($13,740).

Although it was not disclosed as to who Johnson met with during his time there, Murdoch is believed to own a large ranch in the state.

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Three days later on October 14, Johnson delivered a speech to the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers (CIAB) conference in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for 30 minutes, followed by a “fireside chat” for 45 minutes - for which he was paid well enough. 

Transport and accommodation were also arranged by the conference for himself and two members of staff and that's in addition to the £276,130 ($328,234) check, but it doesn't stop there. 

In the entry, Johnson revealed that £3,500 ($4,160) worth of accommodation was offered over the course of four weeks from the Tory donor Anthony Bamford for him and his family. Bamford is the Brexit-advocate businessman who paid for Johnson's wedding reception back in July.

Strings of checks and positions

Theresa May, Johnson’s predecessor, declared in her register of interests that she received £8,000 ($9,509) from a “private community for senior-most executives” called World 50, after appearing at a virtual speaking event that was based in the US.

On top of that, £97,000 ($115,303) was paid to her for delivering a speech at an event by the private equity firm Apax Partners - still ranking Johnson’s "speaker fee" higher than hers.

According to May's account in the register of interests, the fees received from her speeches were used to pay her staff's income, while maintaining her “ongoing involvement in public life” and supporting charity. The annual salary drawn from her private office amounts to £85,000 ($101,039).

Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock was also provided a payment of £10,000 ($11,887) for attending a conference to discuss the ways in which government should support cryptocurrencies.

Johnson served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and leader of the Conservative Party from 2019 to 2022. He stepped down following several scandals over parties at his office during Covid-19 lockdowns. Liz Truss succeeded him but was able to survive for just 44 days before she resigned on Thursday after a series of controversial economic policy decisions.