Boris Johnson has leapfrogged up the league table of MPs’ donations after receiving a single donation worth £1 million.
It is thought this is the single largest donation ever declared by an individual MP. It comes just a few days after Johnson attended a dinner in his honour at the Carlton Club, a Conservative private members’ establishment, to mark the unveiling of his portrait – prompting suggestions that “Borismania” is back.
The former prime minister, who many in Westminster believe is looking to make a return to Number 10 after he was forced out last year, declared the sum from Brexiteer and crypto investor Christopher Harborne as MPs’ registers were updated for the first time since the Christmas break.
Previously Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had been the most donated to MP, with £740,000 in multiple donations, according to the Westminster Accounts tool developed by Tortoise in partnership with Sky News.
According to Johnson’s declaration, the donation has gone to the Office of Boris Johnson Ltd, a company listed on Companies House last October. Details about this entity are scant, although it is similar to one used by his predecessor Theresa May, giving her an annual income of £85,000 on top of her MP’s salary.
Separately to the one-off donation, Johnson also earned £303,880 in speeches in December, including to a Singapore-based crypto event. While out there, he stayed in the legendary five-star Raffles Hotel.
This comes on top of the £1 million Johnson has already declared for a handful of speeches since he left Downing Street in September.
However, May remains at the top of the leaderboard for total outside earnings declared by MPs, having racked up £2.55 million, with a further £250,000 for donations and gifts.
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