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The Boris Files are a cache of leaked documents from Johnson’s private office after his premiership, revealing lobbying efforts, commercial deals, & possible misuse of public funds
Former Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson. (AP Photo)
A major leak of over 1,800 documents, now dubbed the ‘Boris Files’, has brought former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s private and post-premiership activities under intense scrutiny. The files expose lobbying efforts, commercial ventures, undeclared meetings, and alleged misuse of public funds, prompting calls for formal investigations and a suspension of his publicly funded allowance.
The revelations stem from a trove of emails, letters, contracts, spreadsheets, and business records obtained by Distributed Denial of Secrets (DDoS), a US-based non-profit that archives leaked and hacked materials. The files were made available to The Guardian, which remains the only outlet confirmed to have reviewed the full data set.
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While the precise origin of the leak is unknown, the documents reportedly span from Johnson’s resignation in September 2022 to July 2024, with some material dating back to his time in office at 10 Downing Street. Despite its relatively small size, about 2GB, the dataset has triggered widespread political and public scrutiny.
What Are The ‘Boris Files’ And Where Did They Come From?
The term “Boris Files” refers to the leaked contents of Johnson’s private office—the Office of Boris Johnson, a limited company he set up after leaving Downing Street. These documents include internal emails, invoices, business contracts, and records of meetings. The material highlights both Johnson’s private commercial activities after leaving office and certain decisions and interactions during his time in power.
According to DDoS, the data was uploaded to its servers earlier this year, though the organisation has stated that it does not know the exact origin of the leak.
Importantly, access to the Boris Files is not open to the general public. DDoS restricts its more sensitive leaks, including this one, to credentialed journalists and researchers. The Guardian is currently the only media outlet confirmed to have reviewed the full data set.
What Do The Files Say About Boris Johnson’s Business Dealings?
According to The Guardian’s reports, the leaked documents suggest that Boris Johnson capitalised on connections made during his premiership to advance personal business ventures. One of the most significant disclosures relates to his lobbying efforts on behalf of ‘Better Earth’, a consultancy firm he co-chairs.
In February 2024, Johnson met Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Commerce, Majid al-Qasabi, at an exclusive members’ club in London. The meeting reportedly served as a prelude to a direct pitch to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Documents show that Johnson drafted a letter to the crown prince shortly after the meeting, offering Better Earth’s services to support Saudi Arabia’s energy transition and carbon reduction goals. He cited his role in organising the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in 2021 and described himself as “deeply committed to carbon reduction.”
Better Earth, a consultancy reportedly founded by a Canadian mining financier, includes among its shareholders two former Conservative ministers and Charlotte Owen, a former aide elevated by Johnson to the House of Lords.
Johnson’s Meeting With Venezuelan President
Another major disclosure involves Johnson’s 45-minute meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in February 2024. He was accompanied by hedge fund manager Maarten Petermann. Notably, Petermann’s firm, Merlyn Advisors, had signed a contract with Johnson in September 2023, months before the meeting.
Although Johnson publicly claimed he was not paid for the interaction, the leaked documents reportedly show that he received £240,000 from Petermann shortly after the meeting.
This has fuelled speculation about whether Johnson may have been paid in connection with the meeting and if so, whether this contravenes lobbying rules that prohibit former ministers from using their political connections for private financial gain.
How Much Has Johnson Earned From Public Speaking Engagements?
The files also provide detailed insights into the scale of Boris Johnson’s post-premiership speaking career. Between October 2022 and May 2024, Johnson reportedly delivered 34 paid speeches, earning an estimated £5.1 million. These engagements were often accompanied by premium travel and accommodation perks, including first-class flights and five-star hotel stays for Johnson and his staff.
These events were arranged through the Office of Boris Johnson, which also managed his other commercial partnerships, including collaborations with media outlets like The Daily Mail and GB News.
While paid public speaking is not prohibited for former prime ministers, it is subject to restrictions designed to prevent conflicts of interest, especially if the audiences include foreign governments or organisations with prior connections to the UK government during the speaker’s tenure.
Public Duty Costs Allowance
The Public Duty Costs Allowance (PDCA) is a UK government subsidy introduced in 1991 to help former prime ministers carry out public duties after leaving office. It was created following concerns about the financial burden faced by Margaret Thatcher after her resignation. The scheme allows former PMs to claim up to £115,000 annually for staff salaries and administrative costs, but not for private commercial activity.
Johnson’s private office has reportedly claimed £182,000 under the PDCA scheme since he left office. A Cabinet Office source confirmed to The Guardian that this money was used to pay salaries of three full-time staffers in his private office.
However, the files suggest that these staffers were actively involved in Johnson’s private business dealings, including coordination of speaking engagements and managing consultancy outreach.
The revelation has prompted concerns over whether taxpayer money meant for public service was instead supporting private profit-driven activities.
Did The Files Uncover Any Breaches Of Covid-19 Lockdown Rules?
The Boris Files also revisit Johnson’s conduct during the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition to previously known incidents, such as the birthday gathering for which he was fined, new entries suggest further rule violations.
One document refers to a private dinner held on November 6, 2020, at 10 Downing Street for David Brownlow, a Conservative peer who had contributed £58,000 towards the refurbishment of Johnson’s official flat, including “gold” wallpaper worth over £2,000. This dinner occurred just one day after the UK entered its second national lockdown.
Another entry from June 2020 describes a “private appointment” involving Johnson, his then-fiancée Carrie Symonds (now his wife), a vibrational music therapist, the therapist’s mother, and a journalist. All five gathered at the Downing Street residence despite lockdown restrictions prohibiting such social interactions at the time.
Were There Any Undeclared Meetings Of Concern?
The files reveal that while still serving as prime minister, Boris Johnson held an unrecorded meeting with billionaire tech entrepreneur Peter Thiel, founder of the US data analytics firm Palantir. The meeting occurred a few months before Palantir secured a government contract to manage National Health Service (NHS) data.
Although there is no confirmed link between the meeting and the contract award, the lack of official records or disclosures about the meeting has raised transparency concerns, especially given Thiel’s firm’s controversial role in handling sensitive public data.
How Has The UK Political Establishment Reacted?
The leak has led to cross-party demands for investigations and immediate suspension of Johnson’s PDCA access. The government’s ethics watchdog—the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba)—has confirmed to The Guardian that it is examining the revelations. A spokesperson told the newspaper that the committee has already found Johnson in breach of rules previously and will continue to investigate any further non-compliance.
Senior politicians across party lines have demanded action. Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney called the allegations “shocking” and urged the government to suspend Johnson’s public funding “pending a full and proper investigation”. Labour MPs Margaret Hodge and Joe Powell have echoed these concerns, with Hodge warning that Johnson appeared to act “with complete impunity”, and Powell noting that public subsidies “should not be a subsidy for individuals’ business interests”.
What Happens Next?
The Boris Files leak has reignited debate over the ethical boundaries that should apply to former officeholders, especially those transitioning quickly from public service to lucrative private sector roles. It has also intensified scrutiny over the use of public funds, and whether current oversight mechanisms are sufficient.
Johnson, for his part, has denied any wrongdoing. In a statement emailed to The Guardian after its initial report, he said: “The PDCA has been used entirely in accordance with the rules.” He also criticised the newspaper’s reporting, saying it “should change its name to Pravda”, a reference to the former Soviet state newspaper, often invoked to accuse a media outlet of bias or propaganda.
About the Author
Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar…Read More
Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar… Read More
September 10, 2025, 11:27 IST
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