You Pay Chicken Feed, You Get Boris Johnson

BethPH
By BethPH Last edited 176 months ago
You Pay Chicken Feed, You Get Boris Johnson

boris3grains.jpg
Cartoon by David Le Fleming

Ever wondered how much Boris Johnson gets paid for his weekly Telegraph column? At £250,000 per year, it makes him more valuable as a writer than as a mayor.

In a bluster of somewhat defensive-sounding self-justification, Boris describes his Telegraph salary as 'chicken feed' and wholly reasonable because he writes very fast and it's a relaxing way to pass a Sunday morning. Oh, and he donates to charidee. If only all of us writers could be paid such peanuts for our work, we'd be quite happy to bung a few quid in the charity box as well.

A quick glance at his pages on the Telegraph's website offers the reader a wide variety of subjects, from an apologia on free trade aimed at G20 protesters to rants about 'elf and safety' all liberally sprinkled with Borisisms such as 'cretinous crusties', 'poppycock' and 'tumbling idiot'. It's worth reading if only to learn some new phrases.

Despite providing golden opportunities for satirists and bloggers, he claims his comments are 'frivolous', though the millions of Londoners affected by the economic downturn probably won't agree. Still, at least with such a lucrative second job, the mayor should be able to afford to pay for his own taxis.

Last Updated 14 July 2009