Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson has announced dates for his Australian book tour, with tickets priced up to almost $1000 for a three-course meal and meet-and-greet with the controversial political figure.
The infamous Mr Johnson led the Conservative Party from 2019 to 2022 and served as UK prime minister during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit.
He resigned in 2022 following fallout from the “Partygate” scandal, which involved gatherings at Downing Street during harsh public health restrictions.
Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson has announced he will host exclusive events in Sydney and Melbourne promoting his new memoir, Unleashed. Picture: Supplied
Mr Johnson served as UK prime minister from 2019-2022. Picture: AFP
Mr Johnson has confirmed he will be in Australia in December for a long lunch in central Sydney on December 6 and a dinner in Melbourne’s CBD the following day.
The former prime minister will promote his book Unleashed – a deep dive into his time in politics and the media.
In it, Mr Johnson recounts “his role in Brexit” and takes readers through “all the big decisions and his reasons for taking them”, including how he almost died from Covid-19.
The overview continues: “As a journalist he was famed as a blurter of unsayable truths, and he has drawn again on this quality for the book. About people, policies, mistakes and triumphs. This is it – the reality as he saw it: unvarnished, unlocked, unleashed.”
The book jacket for Mr Johnson’s memoir, released in October. Picture: Supplied
In a video message, Mr Johnson tells followers: “I am hugely excited to be travelling to Australia in just a few weeks where I will be having conversations to promote my new book.”
General admission tickets are priced from $99 for the Sydney and Melbourne events but do not include food or drinks.
The prices increase to $995 for a platinum ticket, which includes a private cocktail party with Mr Johnson before the event, a meet-and-greet, an individual photo with Mr Johnson and an autographed copy of his book, plus a three-course meal with beverages and souvenir program.
Bookings for tables of up to 10 (platinum ticket holders) cost up to $9950.
Mr Johnson attracted fierce criticism in 2022 over the ‘Partygate’ scandal, which involved unlawful gatherings at Downing Street during harsh public health restrictions. Picture: AFP
Seen as a controversial figure in UK’s political scene, Mr Johnson worked in journalism before entering politics, writing for The Times, The Spectator and The Daily Telegraph.
In 1987, he was sacked from The Times for fabricating a quote.
He served as mayor of London from 2008-2016 and as foreign secretary from 2016-2018 under Theresa May’s government.
Mr Johnson was elected prime minister following Ms May’s resignation in 2019.
After calling a snap election that same year, he led the Conservative Party to a landmark victory, securing a majority in parliament.
Mr Johnson’s government was largely defined by the deal secured during Brexit negotiations and its response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2022, a host of Tory MPs resigned following the “Partygate” scandal. Mr Johnson and other MPs were fined for breaching public health restrictions during unauthorised parties.
A report into the scandal found Mr Johnson deliberately misled the British parliament over the parties.
Mr Johnson rejected the findings, asserting the gatherings were in accordance with public health rules at the time and branding the investigation a “witch hunt”.
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