Boris Johnson Application for Daily Mail Columnist Could Be Illegal!

Boris Johnson applied as a Daily Mail columnist without even asking ACOBA (Advisory Committee on Business Appointments) first.

Boris Johnson Applies as Daily Mail Columnist Without Permission from ACOBA! — Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a speech on domestic priorities at the Science and Industry Museumon July 27, 2019 in Manchester, England. The PM announced that the government will back a new rail route between Manchester and Leeds. Rui Vieira - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Earlier this June, the Daily Mail, a British newspaper company, announced that the former prime minister decided to become one of its columnists.

The main issue here is Johnson only asked for ACOBA's advice 30 minutes after the Daily Mail published his new column on Twitter. Because of this, the U.K. watchdog is now accusing Boris Johnson of a "clear and unambiguous breach" of its rules.

Boris Johnson Applies as Daily Mail Columnist!

According to The Independent UK's latest report, Boris Johnson becoming a Daily Mail columnist is a clear sign that an urgent reform for the "good chaps" approach to ministerial jobs should be conducted.

As of writing, ACOBA requires ministers to inform it before applying for any job within two years of leaving the government office. However, this rule is criticized by many because it is believed to be lacking enforcement power and is too lenient.

Lord Pickles, the ACOBA chairman and former communities secretary, said that it is up to the U.K. government to take action against Johnson's new job as a columnist.

"I suggest that you take into consideration the low-risk nature of the appointment itself and the need to reform the system to deal with roles in proportion to the risks posed," he explained.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said that there must be sanctions for those breaching ACOBA's rules.

"They were designed to offer guidance when 'good chaps' could be expected to observe the letter and spirit of the rules," said the official via The Guardian.

Boris Johnson's Daily Mail Articles

The former U.K. prime minister is already raising eyebrows after writing an article for the Daily Mail. In his content, he shared his experience with a weight-loss drug. Aside from this, he also wrote about the OceanGate Titan submersible incident.

As of writing, it is still unclear what actions will ACOBA take against Johnson's rule-breaking job application on the Daily Mail.

If you want to learn more about the latest issue of Boris, you can click here.