14 Times Boris Johnson has Lied or Mislead

Boris Johnson’s career has been marked by several controversies where he was accused of misleading the public, stretching the truth, or outright lying. Here are some of the most notable instances:

1. The £350 Million Brexit Bus Claim

• What He Said: During the 2016 EU referendum, Johnson supported the infamous claim that the UK sends £350 million a week to the EU and that the money could be better spent on the NHS.
• Reality: This figure was widely discredited as it did not take into account the UK’s rebate or the funds that came back from the EU. The UK Statistics Authority called it a “clear misuse of official statistics.”

2. No Border Checks in the Irish Sea

• What He Said: Johnson repeatedly assured the public and Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) that his Brexit deal would not create customs checks between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
• Reality: His deal did establish a de facto customs border in the Irish Sea, which led to significant friction and difficulties with trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

3. COVID-19 ‘No Cuts to the NHS’ Promise

• What He Said: Johnson claimed there would be no cuts to the NHS under his leadership, emphasizing his commitment to “levelling up” healthcare spending.
• Reality: Despite this promise, many felt the government’s handling of the NHS during the pandemic showed a lack of proper funding and support, especially with the shortages of PPE, healthcare staff strikes, and austerity measures lingering from his tenure.

4. Partygate

• What He Said: Johnson repeatedly denied any rule-breaking parties in Downing Street during COVID-19 lockdowns, claiming all guidelines were followed.
• Reality: Investigations, fines, and media reports revealed that multiple parties were held at Downing Street when the public was under strict lockdown, leading to Johnson receiving a police fine and widespread public outrage.

5. The “Levelling Up” Agenda

• What He Said: Johnson pledged to “level up” poorer regions of the UK by boosting public services, creating jobs, and reducing inequality.
• Reality: Critics argue that his government failed to deliver significant progress, with ongoing cuts to local services and little tangible impact in many areas.

6. Promises on Social Care Reform

• What He Said: Johnson promised a “clear plan” to fix the UK’s social care crisis when he became Prime Minister.
• Reality: No comprehensive plan materialized, with critics accusing the government of kicking the issue into the long grass, despite an increase in National Insurance to fund the sector.

7. The “Ready to Go” EU-UK Trade Deal

• What He Said: Johnson claimed his Brexit deal was “oven-ready” during the 2019 general election.
• Reality: Post-Brexit negotiations proved to be much more complex and lengthy, and many aspects of UK-EU relations remain unresolved, particularly around Northern Ireland and fishing rights.

8. No Early Election in 2019

• What He Said: In July 2019, Johnson repeatedly claimed that he would not call an early general election.
• Reality: Just a few months later, he called for a snap general election, which took place in December 2019.

9. Claims About Turkey Joining the EU

• What He Said: During the Brexit campaign, Johnson suggested that Turkey was on the verge of joining the EU, and that this would lead to a surge in immigration to the UK.
• Reality: At the time, Turkey’s EU accession process was effectively stalled, and it was highly unlikely that Turkey would join the EU anytime soon.

10. COVID-19 “World-Beating” Test and Trace System

• What He Said: Johnson repeatedly promised that the UK would have a “world-beating” test and trace system for COVID-19.
• Reality: The system faced widespread criticism for being ineffective, slow, and failing to contain the spread of the virus efficiently.

11. “No One Told Me It Was a Party”

• What He Said: After initial denials, Johnson eventually claimed he did not realize the events in Downing Street during lockdown were parties and thought they were “work events.”
• Reality: Given the nature of the gatherings—some involving drinks, music, and socializing—this defense was seen by many as implausible.

12. Pledged to Cut Immigration Post-Brexit

• What He Said: Johnson and the Vote Leave campaign promised that Brexit would reduce immigration levels, giving the UK more control over its borders.
• Reality: After Brexit, immigration numbers did not significantly drop, and policies like the points-based immigration system continued to allow high levels of skilled migration.

13. “Protective Ring” Around Care Homes During COVID-19

• What He Said: Johnson claimed the government had put a “protective ring” around care homes during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Reality: In reality, many care homes were left without adequate PPE, and thousands of elderly residents died after infected patients were discharged from hospitals back into care homes.

14. Refusal to Apologize for Racist Comments

• What He Said: Johnson has been accused of making several racially insensitive or outright racist comments in the past, including describing black people as having “watermelon smiles” and referring to Muslim women as looking like “letterboxes.”
• Reality: Johnson has largely avoided apologizing for these remarks, despite widespread criticism.