Johnson, Boris
Johnson, Boris
(Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson), 1964–, British politician, b. New York City, grad. Oxford (1986). While at Oxford Johnson was president of the prestigious Oxford Union debating society. He worked as a journalist, becoming editor of The Spectator (1999–2005). Boyish, outspoken, and sometimes controversial, he was elected to Parliament as a Conservative in 2001 and 2005. He was elected mayor of London in 2008, defeating incumbent Ken LivingstoneLivingstone, Ken,1945–, British politician. Elected to the Greater London Council (GLC) in 1973 as a Labour member, he became GLC leader in 1981. His use of the local office to promote leftist policies earned him the nickname "Red Ken" and was a major factor in Prime
..... Click the link for more information. , and defeated Livingstone again in 2012. In 2015 he was elected to Parliament again. He was among the most prominent British politicians to campaign for Britain's exit from the European Union in the 2016 referendum on the issue, and was named foreign secretary by Theresa MayMay, Theresa Mary,
1956–, British political leader, b. Eastbourne, Sussex, as Theresa Mary Brasier, grad. Oxford (1977). She worked for the Bank of England (1977–83) and the Association for Payment Clearing Services (1985–97) before she was elected as a
..... Click the link for more information. when she became prime minister in the aftermath of the vote in favor of leaving. He resigned the post in 2018 because he favored a more radical break with the EU than May was proposing. Johnson has written several books, including Friends, Voters, Countrymen (2001), Lend Me Your Ears (2003), a novel, Seventy-Two Virgins (2004), The Dream of Rome (2006), and Johnson's Life of London (2011).