Career Timeline of Boris Johnson: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Boris Johnson made an impact.
Boris Johnson, a British politician and writer, served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2019 to 2022. Prior to this, he held prominent positions including Foreign Secretary (2016-2018) and Mayor of London (2008-2016). Johnson also served as a Member of Parliament for Henley (2001-2008) and Uxbridge and South Ruislip (2015-2023). His political career has been marked by his leadership roles within the Conservative Party and his involvement in significant events like Brexit.
1945: Reference to Biggest War in Europe
On 20 February 2022, Johnson warned that Russia was planning the "biggest war in Europe since 1945" as Putin intended to invade and encircle Kyiv, underscoring the severity of the situation.
1984: Election as secretary of the Oxford Union
In 1984, Boris Johnson was elected secretary of the Oxford Union.
1986: Elected president of the Oxford Union
In 1986, Boris Johnson ran successfully for president of the Oxford Union.
September 1987: Marriage to Allegra Mostyn-Owen and employment at The Times
In September 1987, Boris Johnson married Allegra Mostyn-Owen and began working as a graduate trainee at The Times.
1989: Writing for The Daily Telegraph
In 1989, Boris Johnson began writing for The Daily Telegraph.
1993: Outlined desire to run as Conservative
In 1993, Boris Johnson outlined his desire to run as a Conservative in the 1994 European Parliament elections.
1994: Sought European Parliament seat
In 1994, Boris Johnson sought a seat in the European Parliament elections but could not find a constituency.
1994: End of term as Brussels Bureau Reporter
In 1994, Boris Johnson's term as Brussels Bureau Reporter for The Daily Telegraph ended.
1997: Lost election for Clwyd South
In 1997, Boris Johnson attained 9,091 votes (23 per cent) in the general election for the Clwyd South seat, losing to Labour candidate Martyn Jones.
July 1999: Editorship of The Spectator
In July 1999, Conrad Black offered Johnson the editorship of The Spectator on the condition he abandon his parliamentary aspirations, to which Johnson agreed. The magazine's circulation grew and became profitable under his editorship.
1999: Editor of The Spectator
In 1999, Boris Johnson became the editor of The Spectator.
1999: Column in GQ Magazine
In 1999, Johnson was given a column reviewing new cars in GQ, an American men's monthly magazine. His numerous parking fines while testing cars caused frustration among the staff.
2001: Member of Parliament for Henley
In 2001, Boris Johnson became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Henley.
2001: Member of the Shadow Cabinet of Michael Howard
In 2001, Boris Johnson became a member of the Shadow Cabinet of Michael Howard.
2001: Publication of 'Friends, Voters, Countrymen: Jottings on the Stump'
In 2001, Johnson's book, 'Friends, Voters, Countrymen: Jottings on the Stump', which recounted that year's election campaign, was published.
2001: Elected as MP for Henley
In the 2001 general election, Johnson won the seat for Henley, a Conservative safe seat in Oxfordshire, assisted by his television fame.
November 2003: Michael Howard becomes leader of the Conservative Party
In November 2003, Michael Howard succeeded Iain Duncan Smith as leader of the Conservative Party. Howard appointed Johnson as vice-chairman.
2003: Views on the European Union
In 2003, Boris Johnson expressed that he was not an ultra-Eurosceptic and was a fan of the European Union.
2003: Publication of 'Lend Me Your Ears'
In 2003, Johnson's 'Lend Me Your Ears' was published, collecting previously published columns and articles.
May 2004: Appointed Shadow Arts Minister
In May 2004, Michael Howard appointed Johnson as shadow arts minister in his Shadow Cabinet reshuffle.
November 2004: Dismissed as vice-chairman and shadow arts minister
In November 2004, Johnson was dismissed as vice-chairman and shadow arts minister by Michael Howard after initially denying allegations of an affair with Petronella Wyatt, which were later proven true.
2004: Publication of 'Seventy-Two Virgins: A Comedy of Errors'
In 2004, HarperCollins published Johnson's first novel, 'Seventy-Two Virgins: A Comedy of Errors', which revolved around the life of a Conservative MP and contained autobiographical elements.
2005: End of term as editor of The Spectator
In 2005, Boris Johnson's term as editor of The Spectator ended.
2005: Re-elected as MP for Henley
In the 2005 general election, Johnson was re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Henley. After the election of David Cameron, Johnson was appointed as the shadow higher education minister.
January 2006: Broadcast of The Dream of Rome
In January 2006, Johnson's popular history television show, 'The Dream of Rome', was broadcast.
2006: Campaign for Rector of the University of Edinburgh
In 2006, Johnson campaigned to become the Rector of the University of Edinburgh, but his support for top-up fees damaged his campaign, and he came third.
2007: Third-highest-earning MP
In 2007, Johnson earned £540,000, making him the third-highest-earning MP that year.
May 2008: Formation of the Forensic Audit Panel
In May 2008, the Forensic Audit Panel was announced, tasked with monitoring financial management at the London Development Agency and the Greater London Authority. Johnson's announcement faced criticism for the perceived politicisation of the nominally independent panel.
October 2008: Resignation of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair
In October 2008, Johnson, as chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority, successfully pushed for the resignation of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ian Blair.
2009: Advocating a referendum on EU membership
From 2009, Boris Johnson advocated a referendum on Britain's EU membership.
January 2010: Resignation as chairman of the MPA
In January 2010, Johnson resigned as chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority.
2010: Mayor's Fund earnings
By 2010, the Mayor's Fund, established by Boris Johnson to aid disadvantaged youths, had only earned £1.5 million, falling short of its initial £100 million target.
2011: Condemning Occupy London movement
In 2011, Boris Johnson condemned the anti-capitalist Occupy London movement, while championing London's financial sector following the 2008 financial crisis.
2012: Tree Planting Pledge
By 2012, Boris Johnson, as Mayor of London, had pledged to plant 10,000 street trees in London.
2012: Re-elected mayor
In 2012, Boris Johnson was re-elected mayor of London.
2012: Re-election as Mayor of London
In 2012, Boris Johnson, up for re-election, hired Crosby to orchestrate his campaign and published "Johnson's Life of London". He was re-elected, defeating Livingstone, whose campaign focused on criticising Johnson rather than presenting a vision for London's future.
2012: London hosts the 2012 Summer Olympics
In 2012, London hosted the Summer Olympics, with Johnson as board co-chair. He improved transportation but was accused of covering up pollution ahead of the games.
November 2013: Changes to the London Underground operation
In November 2013, Johnson announced major changes to the operation of the London Underground, including the extension of operating hours and the replacement of all staffed ticket offices with automated ticketing systems.
August 2014: Selection as Conservative candidate
In August 2014, Boris Johnson sought selection as the Conservative candidate for Uxbridge and South Ruislip at the 2015 general election.
2015: Member of Parliament for Uxbridge and South Ruislip
In 2015, Boris Johnson became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
2015: Criticism of Donald Trump
In 2015, Boris Johnson criticized Donald Trump's comments about no-go zones in London, deeming him "unfit to hold the office of President of the United States".
2015: Elected MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip
In 2015, Boris Johnson was elected MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
2015: Election to Parliament
In the 2015 general election, Boris Johnson was elected to Parliament, leading to speculation that he wanted to replace Cameron as Conservative leader and prime minister.
February 2016: Endorsement of Vote Leave
In February 2016, Boris Johnson endorsed Vote Leave in the "Out" campaign for the 2016 European Union membership referendum, causing the pound sterling to slump.
May 2016: Stepping down as mayor
Boris Johnson stepped down as mayor on 5 May 2016, following the election. A YouGov poll revealed that 52% of Londoners believed he did a "good job".
June 2016: "Britain's independence day" declaration
In June 2016, during a televised debate, Boris Johnson declared that 23 June could be "Britain's independence day".
July 2016: Appointment as Foreign Secretary
In July 2016, Theresa May appointed Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary, a move analysts saw as a tactic to weaken him politically.
September 2016: Visit to Turkey
In September 2016, Boris Johnson's visit to Turkey was tense due to his winning Douglas Murray's offensive poetry competition about the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He dismissed the matter as "trivia" and pledged to help Turkey join the EU.
2016: Worries about Donald Trump becoming president
In 2016, Boris Johnson expressed genuine worry that Donald Trump could become president.
2016: Brexit campaign and appointment as foreign secretary
In 2016, Boris Johnson was a prominent figure in the Brexit campaign and was later appointed foreign secretary by Prime Minister Theresa May after the referendum.
2016: End of term as Mayor of London
In 2016, Boris Johnson's term as Mayor of London came to an end, during which he initiated tree-planting programs to enhance green spaces.
April 2017: Statements on Gibraltar and Irish border
In April 2017, Boris Johnson stated that Gibraltar's sovereignty was "not going to change" after Brexit and promised that Brexit would leave the Irish border "absolutely unchanged".
September 2017: Reiterating control of £350m a week after Brexit
In September 2017, Boris Johnson reiterated the UK would regain control of £350m a week after Brexit, suggesting it go to the National Health Service (NHS).
September 2017: Visit to Anguilla and Tortola
In September 2017, Boris Johnson visited Anguilla and Tortola to confirm the UK's commitment to helping restore British territories devastated by Hurricane Irma.
February 2018: Suggestion that Northern Ireland may have to accept border controls after Brexit
In a February 2018 letter to May, Boris Johnson suggested that Northern Ireland may have to accept border controls after Brexit and that it would not seriously affect trade, having initially said a hard border would be unthinkable.
May 2018: Support for the Iran nuclear deal framework
In May 2018, Boris Johnson backed the Iran nuclear deal framework, despite Donald Trump's withdrawal.
June 2018: Dissatisfaction with Theresa May's negotiating style
Secret recordings obtained by BuzzFeed News in June 2018 revealed Boris Johnson's dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Theresa May's negotiating style, accusing her of being too collaborative with the European Union in Brexit negotiations.
July 2018: Signing contract with Telegraph Media Group and Failing to Declare Earnings
In July 2018, Boris Johnson signed a 12-month contract to write articles for the Telegraph Media Group, which was considered a breach of the Ministerial Code. He was later ordered to apologize for failing to declare £50,000 of earnings.
July 2018: Resignation as Foreign Secretary
In July 2018, three days after a cabinet meeting to agree on a Brexit strategy, Boris Johnson resigned from his post as Foreign Secretary, along with Brexit secretary David Davis.
2018: Resignation as foreign secretary
In 2018, Boris Johnson resigned from his position as foreign secretary in protest at the Chequers Agreement and May's approach to Brexit.
2018: Brexit Negotiations
In 2018, during Brexit negotiations, Boris Johnson called for Britain to leave the Single Market and advocated a more liberal approach to immigration than that of Prime Minister May.
January 2019: IPSO ruling on Brexit article
In January 2019, an article in The Daily Telegraph, authored by Boris Johnson, claimed that a no-deal Brexit was "by some margin preferred by the British public".
June 2019: Conservative Party Leadership Campaign Launch
On 12 June 2019, Boris Johnson launched his campaign for the Conservative Party leadership election, emphasizing the need to leave the EU by 31 October. He also warned against further Brexit delays and advocated removing the backstop. In June 2019, Johnson also initially pledged to cut income tax for earners of more than £50,000 but backed away from this plan after criticism in a BBC debate.
July 2019: Became Prime Minister and Moved into 11 Downing Street
After becoming prime minister in July 2019, Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds moved into a flat above 11 Downing Street.
July 2019: Pro-China Stance Expressed
In July 2019, Boris Johnson stated that his government would be very "pro-China," expressing support for Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative and promising to keep the UK the most open economy in Europe for Chinese investment.
July 2019: Cabinet Appointment and Dismissals
On 24 July 2019, Boris Johnson appointed his Cabinet, dismissing 11 senior ministers and accepting the resignation of six others. The mass dismissal was the most extensive postwar Cabinet reorganisation without a change in the ruling party.
July 2019: Appointment as Prime Minister
On 24 July 2019, following his election as Conservative Party leader, Boris Johnson was appointed as prime minister by Queen Elizabeth II. This appointment made Johnson the first prime minister to be born outside British territories, and he appointed Dominic Cummings as his senior advisor.
August 2019: Brexit Negotiations
In August 2019, Boris Johnson wrote a letter to the EU asking for the removal of the "backstop" accord, which was rejected. He also stated that Britain would not pay £39 billion for the withdrawal agreement if the UK left without a deal.
August 2019: Resumption of Brexit negotiations
On 28 August 2019, UK and EU negotiators agreed to resume regular meetings regarding Brexit.
September 2019: Resignation of Jo Johnson
In September 2019, Jo Johnson, Boris Johnson's brother, resigned from his brother's government.
September 2019: Parliament Resumes and General Election Proposed
In September 2019, after Parliament resumed on 3 September, Boris Johnson indicated he would call a general election under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act after opposition and rebel Conservative MPs voted against the government to prevent a no-deal exit. On 4 September 2019, the Benn Act passed, and Johnson proposed a general election on 15 October, but the motion failed.
October 2019: Dissolution of Parliament and General Election
In October 2019, Parliament was dissolved, and a general election was called for 12 December. The election resulted in the Conservative Party winning 43.6% of the vote and a parliamentary landslide majority of 80 seats. A key slogan used in the Conservative campaign was "Get Brexit Done".
October 2019: Revised Brexit Deal Agreement
In October 2019, following bilateral talks between Boris Johnson and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, the UK and EU agreed to a revised Brexit deal, replacing the backstop with a new Northern Ireland Protocol.
October 2019: Brexit deadline
In October 2019, in his first speech as PM, Johnson said that the United Kingdom would leave the European Union on 31 October 2019 with or without a deal, and promised to remove the Irish backstop from the withdrawal agreement.
December 2019: Landslide Victory in General Election
In December 2019, Boris Johnson won a landslide victory in the general election after calling a snap election when failing to win parliamentary support for a revised Brexit withdrawal agreement.
2019: Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
In 2019, Boris Johnson became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party.
2019: Support for "net-zero" emissions
In 2019, Boris Johnson expressed support for the UK to have "net-zero" greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
2019: Brexit Deadline
In 2019, Boris Johnson said he would take Britain out of the EU on 31 October whether there was a trade deal in place or not.
2019: Promise to Reduce Net Migration
In 2019, Johnson promised to reduce net migration to the United Kingdom below 250,000 per year by the next election.
January 2020: Trade Negotiations with the EU Following Brexit
Following the formal withdrawal from the European Union in January 2020, Johnson's government began trade negotiations with the EU, with fisheries being a major point of discussion.
February 2020: Cabinet Reshuffle
In February 2020, Boris Johnson reshuffled his cabinet, sacking five Cabinet ministers, including Julian Smith. Sajid Javid resigned as Chancellor and was replaced by Rishi Sunak.
June 2020: Offer to Hong Kong Residents
In June 2020, Johnson announced that if China continued pursuing the Hong Kong national security law, the UK would offer 350,000 Hong Kong residents with British National (Overseas) passports, and 2.6 million other eligible individuals, the chance to move to the UK.
October 2020: Preparation for No Trade Deal with the EU
On 16 October 2020, Johnson stated that the UK "must get ready" for the possibility of no trade deal with the EU, indicating a tough stance in negotiations.
November 2020: Green Industrial Revolution Plan Announced
In November 2020, Boris Johnson announced a 10-point plan for a "green industrial revolution," which included ending the sale of petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, increasing offshore wind power capacity, and funding emissions-cutting proposals.
December 2020: Start of COVID-19 Vaccination Programme
Britain began its COVID-19 vaccination programme in December 2020.
December 2020: EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement Reached
On 24 December 2020, it was announced that the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement had been reached, which formally came into force on 1 May, marking a significant step in post-Brexit relations.
2020: Support for "net-zero" emissions and climate change mitigation
In 2020, Boris Johnson expressed support for the UK to have "net-zero" greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and spoke about increasing ambition for mitigating climate change.
March 2021: Vaccination Milestones
By 20 March 2021, half of UK adults had received at least their first vaccine dose.
May 2021: State Opening of Parliament
On 11 May 2021, at the State Opening of Parliament, Johnson's government announced a range of proposed laws including bills related to the dissolution of Parliament, higher education freedom of speech, online safety, animal welfare, voter identification, immigration, and levelling up policy.
June 2021: Sajid Javid returns to Cabinet
In June 2021, Sajid Javid returned to Boris Johnson's Cabinet as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care following the resignation of Matt Hancock.
July 2021: Views on Afghanistan Troop Withdrawal Expressed
On 8 July 2021, following the near completion of British troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, Johnson expressed apprehension about the country's future and stated that there was "no military path to victory for the Taliban".
September 2021: Cabinet Reshuffle
In September 2021, Boris Johnson reshuffled his cabinet again, dismissing Gavin Williamson as Education Secretary and moving Dominic Raab from foreign secretary to deputy prime minister and justice secretary. Liz Truss replaced Raab as foreign secretary.
2021: United Nations Climate Change Conference
During the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, Boris Johnson called for greater efforts towards climate change mitigation and welcomed the prospect of coal phase-out.
2021: Scheme for Hongkongers
In 2021, Johnson's government launched a scheme for Hongkongers following the Hong Kong national security law, which resulted in over 200,000 Hong Kong residents immigrating to the UK.
2021: Plans to cut carbon emissions by 78% by 2035
In 2021, the Johnson government announced plans to cut carbon emissions by 78% by 2035, demonstrating a commitment to environmental sustainability.
February 2022: Condemnation of Russian Invasion of Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, Johnson condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, ensured the UK joined international sanctions on Russian banks and oligarchs, and later announced the UK would phase out Russian oil by the end of 2022.
April 2022: Nuclear Reactor and Wind Energy Expansion Announced
In April 2022, Johnson announced plans to build eight more nuclear reactors on existing nuclear power plant sites and called for an expansion in wind energy to increase low-carbon power sources for the UK.
April 2022: Visit to Kyiv and Ban from Russia
On 9 April 2022, Johnson traveled to Kyiv and met with President Zelenskyy. Subsequently, on 16 April 2022, Russia's Ministry for Foreign Affairs banned Johnson and other senior British politicians from visiting Russia.
May 2022: Draft to Change Northern Ireland Protocol
In May 2022, Johnson readied a draft to unilaterally change parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, citing issues with medical supplies and VAT cuts, which was met with resistance from the EU.
June 2022: Vote of Confidence in Leadership
In June 2022, Boris Johnson faced a vote of confidence in his leadership amongst Conservative MPs, which he won.
July 2022: Warning against Ceasing Fire in Ukraine
In July 2022, Johnson warned that it would be a mistake to cease fire and freeze the conflict in Ukraine, signaling continued support for Ukraine.
July 2022: Resignation as Prime Minister
In July 2022, revelations over Boris Johnson's appointment of Chris Pincher as deputy chief whip of the party while knowing of allegations of sexual misconduct against him led to a mass resignation of members of his government and to Johnson announcing his resignation as prime minister.
August 2022: Blame on Putin for Energy Crisis
In August 2022, Johnson blamed Vladimir Putin for the emerging global energy crisis, attributing it to the conflict in Ukraine.
September 2022: Resignation and Farewell Speech
In September 2022, Johnson resigned as Prime Minister. On 5 September 2022, Liz Truss won the Conservative leadership election. On 6 September 2022, during his farewell speech, Johnson referred to the Roman statesman Cincinnatus.
October 2022: Withdrawal from Leadership Election
After Liz Truss announced her resignation as Conservative Party leader on 20 October 2022, Johnson received more than 100 MP nominations but announced he would not stand in the leadership election.
2022: End of Prime Ministership
In 2022, Boris Johnson's term as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party concluded.
2022: Asylum Deal with Rwanda Introduced
In 2022, Johnson's government introduced an asylum deal whereby people entering the UK illegally would be sent to Rwanda, generating significant controversy.
2022: Delay of UK Border Checks
Introduction of new UK border checks were delayed until 2022 to minimize the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022: Prime Minister's Resignation Honours
On 9 June 2023, the publication of his 2022 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours led to a public feud with Sunak. Johnson supporter Nadine Dorries announced that she was resigning as an MP due to not being included as a peer on the honours list.
June 2023: Resignation as MP
In June 2023, Boris Johnson resigned his position as MP the same day he received the draft of the Commons Privileges Committee investigation into his conduct that unanimously found that he had lied to the Commons on numerous occasions.
October 2023: Joins GB News as Commentator
In October 2023, Johnson announced he would join the television channel GB News as a commentator and programme maker for the next general election and US presidential election.
2023: End of term as Member of Parliament for Uxbridge and South Ruislip
In 2023, Boris Johnson's term as Member of Parliament (MP) for Uxbridge and South Ruislip concluded.
February 2024: Private Meeting with Nicolás Maduro
In February 2024, Johnson had a private meeting with the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro.
March 2024: Expected to Campaign for Conservatives
In March 2024, The Times reported that Johnson is expected to campaign for the Conservatives in the next general election.
October 2024: Release of Memoir Unleashed
Johnson's memoir, Unleashed, was released in October 2024.
2030: End of Petrol and Diesel Car Sales
As part of the "green industrial revolution" plan announced in November 2020, the UK aimed to end the sale of petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030.
2030: Global Methane Pledge
Johnson announced that the UK would join the Global Methane Pledge to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030 at the COP26 summit.
2030: Target for Low-Carbon Electricity
Under plans announced in April 2022, up to 95% of the UK's electricity could come from low-carbon power sources by 2030, signaling a significant shift towards sustainable energy.
2035: Target Year for 78% Carbon Emission Cut
The Johnson government announced in 2021 plans to cut carbon emissions by 78% by 2035, setting a target for significant environmental improvement.
Mentioned in this timeline
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
Vladimir Putin is a Russian politician the current President of...
Ukraine is a large Eastern European country bordering Russia Belarus...
Elizabeth II reigned as Queen of the United Kingdom and...
Barack Obama the th U S President - was the...
Venezuela officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is located on...
Trending
21 minutes ago Michigan Wolverines vs Purdue: Week 10 Game Preview and Predictions
22 minutes ago Child care waitlists create economic hardship; Indiana ends vouchers in 2026.
1 hour ago Kendall Jenner frustrated by Caitlyn's views; Caitlyn reunites with kids on Kardashians.
6 days ago Emma Watson and original Harry Potter stars reunite for star-studded audiobook edition.
2 hours ago Noem Rejects Pritzker's Request to Pause ICE Operations in Chicago for Halloween.
2 hours ago LoL Worlds 2025: T1 vs Gen.G Final Forecasted to Break Viewership Records
Popular
Gavin Newsom is an American politician and businessman currently serving...
Doug Ford is a Canadian politician and businessman currently serving...
Candace Owens is an American political commentator and author known...
XXXTentacion born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy was a controversial yet...
Chuck Schumer is the senior United States Senator from New...
Charlie Kirk is an American right-wing political activist entrepreneur and...