Murdoch spent £11,500 flying Johnson to US for ‘private meeting’ after No10 exit

RUPERT MURDOCH paid for Boris Johnson to attend a “private meeting” in the US a month after leaving Downing Street, official records show.

The former prime minister and two members of staff stayed overnight in Montana, where the newspaper mogul recently bought a ranch, on Oct 11.

The cost of internal US air travel, accommodation and hospitality paid for by Mr Murdoch was £11,559.84.

A spokesman for Mr Johnson said the event was a “private meeting” and would not confirm whether he stayed over at the ranch while in Montana. Carrie Johnson, the wife of the former prime minister, did not attend.

Mr Murdoch bought the 340,000acre Beaverhead Ranch in southwest Montana for a reported $200million (£168million) last year. It was the largest ranch sale in the US state’s history.

The meeting in Montana took place a week before Liz Truss announced her intention to resign as Tory leader – prompting Mr Johnson to mount a short-lived campaign to succeed her.

He returned from holiday in the Dominican Republic, but a day after he got back to the UK he announced he would not be standing.

Details of the meeting with Mr Murdoch were disclosed in the Commons register of members’ financial interests, published yesterday.

It also showed that, three days after the Montana trip, Mr Johnson was paid £276,000 for a speech to American insurers.

He addressed a conference held by the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers (CIAB), giving a 30-minute speech and a 45-minute “fireside chat” at the event in Colorado Springs.

Reports suggested he had been paid about $150,000 (£126,000) for his speech, but an update to the MPS’ register of interests published yesterday showed the full fee was £276,130.

The entry in Mr Johnson’s register stated he also received transport and accommodation from the CIAB for himself and two members of staff.

His entry also showed the money was in exchange for eight hours and 30 minutes’ work, giving him an hourly rate of almost £32,500.

Mr Johnson’s speaking fee was considerably higher than that commanded by his predecessor Theresa May, who declared income from two speaking engagements in yesterday’s update.

Mrs May received £8,000 from World 50, a “private community for senior-most executives” based in the US, for a one-hour appearance at a virtual speaking event.