THE BOX SET: Byline Times on Boris Johnson

From jacuzzi justice to toxic masculinity, dodgy think tanks to Russian oligarchs and hedge fund backers, Trump, Steve Bannon, Dominic Cummings and Farage: here’s all you need to know about our Prime Minister.

After the success of our first Box Set on Russian Interference, Byline Times follows up with a horror season on the Chief Punditocrat, the current Prime Minister Boris Johnson – as revealed in 43 articles from our first year of publication.

Is Boris Johnson Betraying Britain with his Bannon-Style Paranoia about the ‘Deep State’?

Peter Jukes, 17 January 2019

There’s little doubt Boris Johnson was inspired in his deep state rhetoric by Steve Bannon…. The problem for Boris Johnson is that Steve Bannon is a key subject of the FBI investigation into Russian interference.

Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson Advisor Steve Bannon Implicated in Mueller Investigation

Peter Jukes, 25 January 2019

As Steve Bannon is identified of the ‘High-Ranking’ Trump Campaign official in the Roger Stone indictment, the question of Russian collusion not only moves upwards to the President, but across the Atlantic

A Challenge to Boris Johnson:

Explain Your Offensive Child Sexual Abuse Comments

Mark Conrad, 4 April 2019

An emotional letter to Byline Times from a child abuse survivor has reignited debate over Boris Johnson’s claim that Britain’s CSA inquiry is a £60m waste of money.

EXCLUSIVE

Who’s Backing Boris Johnson to be Prime Minister? And what’s in it for Lynton Crosby?

James Hanning, 3 May 2019

The former Mayor of London and Foreign Secretary is on manoeuvres this summer: James Hanning explores the possible pipelines of money fueling him.

BORIS JOHNSON’S JACUZZI JUSTICE

Andrew Sperling, 22 May 2019

Why Boris Johnson’s politicised intervention on a prisoner’s temporary release – a case he will know nothing about – is dangerous.

‘Oh, he’s Such a Card’ – Boris Johnson the Joker. But Where does he Really Stand?

James Hanning, 29 May 2019

With Boris Johnson announcing his bid to become Conservative party leader, James Hanning sheds some light on what the ‘blonde buffoon’ actually believes in.

EXCLUSIVE

‘Johnson and Gove Must Have Known About Illegality’

WHY THE VOTE LEAVE LEADERS THREATEN DEMOCRACY

Shahmir Sanni, 4 June 2019

Shahmir Sanni reveals how two of the contenders to replace Theresa May cannot absolve themselves of responsibility for wrongdoing during the EU Referendum.

BORIS JOHNSON AND THE ‘TUFTON STREET’ NETWORK

Mat Hope, 10 June 2019

Mat Hope , of DeSmog, maps the shadowy network of lobbyists and politicians working together to push for environmental deregulation — all in the name of Brexit.

THE BORIS JOHNSON SHOW

A Role on which the Curtain Never Falls

Otto English, 12 June 2019

As the favourite to become our next Prime Minister launches his leadership bid, Otto English looks back on the life, times and the very many lies of Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson.

THE BORIS JOHNSON SHOW

Keeping the Show On the Road

Otto English, 14 June 2019

In the second part of his profile on the Tory leadership favourite, Otto English explores Boris Johnson’s use of realpolitik in his drive towards grabbing the keys to No. 10.

Boris Johnson is Britain’s Donald Trump – Complete with Bannon and Russia Cover-Up

Peter Jukes, 12 June 2019

Boris Johnson finally launched his bid to become Britain’s Prime Minister today, and it’s clear that the same dark money and data are behind him.

13 Simple Questions for Plain-Speaking Boris Johnson which he Won’t be Asked by the BBC

James Hanning, 21 June 2019

He’s likely to be our next Prime Minister and said the public wants politicians who say it like it is. These queries from James Hanning should pose no problem to Boris Johnson then

The Clock is Ticking on Boris and Brexit, but Still No Headway on Confronting Electoral Wrongdoing

Byline Times Team, 4 July 2019

Even though they’re crucial to the security of future elections, the British institutions supposed to be safeguarding democracy are playing the game of passing the buck.

Boris Johnson’s 20,000 New Police Officers won’t Provide a Solution to Britain’s Creaking Justice System

Nazir Afzal, 26 July 2019

North West England’s former Chief Prosecutor, Nazir Afzal, on why the new Prime Minister does not have a coherent crime and justice strategy – despite his ‘law and order’ rhetoric.

Cummings, Elliott, Westley – Boris Johnson’s Game of Russian Roulette

Otto English, 26 July 2019

Otto English on how the new prime minister’s appointment of the toxic trio Dominic Cummings, Matthew Elliott and Chloe Westley is a massive hostage to fortune.

ENTER THE EMPEROR

Why Boris Johnson is our Caligula

Otto English, 24 July 2019

With his love of himself, vanity projects and grand pronouncements, Otto English on why Britain’s new Prime Minister shares more than a few similarities with the Roman Emperor who proved too good to be true.

WEAPONISING NEWS

With a Disgraced Journalist in Number 10, the Fourth Estate is now the Fifth Battlespace

Peter Jukes, 23 July 2019

Peter Jukes looks back over three years of information warfare around the election of Donald Trump and the Brexit referendum and asks: how do we distinguish real journalism from disinformation?

Watch Out Boris Johnson, the Chickens are Coming Home to Roost

Otto English, 31 July 2019

Otto English on why the realities of high office are dawning on our new Prime Minister.

‘It’s Not Democracy and It’s Not the Law’ – Legal Action to Stop Boris Johnson Suspending Parliament for No Deal Brexit Given Go Ahead

James Doleman, 13 August 2019

A cross-party group of 75 MPs argued that proroguing Parliament would be a breach of the British constitution.

VIOLENCE, DRUGS, TERROR

A Day in Court with our Top Conservatives

Duncan Campbell, 19 August 2019

Crime writer Duncan Campbell takes his seat in the press bench for a most satisfying trio of cases.

EXCLUSIVE Parliament’s Financial Watchdog Launches Investigation into Boris Johnson’s No Deal Brexit

David Hencke, 20 August 2019

“Lessons can still be learned from the previous period of ‘no deal’ planning, where in some cases rushed decisions meant taxpayers’ money was not spent well,” says National Audit Office.

Who’s Behind Boris Johnson’s Coup? The Murky Lobbyists Who’ve Taken Over the Government

Simon Roach, 29 August 2019

Simon Roach reveals the main players and interests in the Boris Johnson regime – and most lead back to Vote Leave and Donald Trump

The Vote Leave Wrongdoers are Now in Power and Britain is Under Threat Like Never Before

Shahmir Sanni, 30 August 2019

BeLeave whistleblower Shahmir Sanni named various individuals involved in electoral wrongdoing during the 2016 EU Referendum – now they’re in power.

BORIS JOHNSON’S RISING CRIME

The Lie Justifying the Proroguing of Parliament

Iain Overton, 3 September 2019

Why the Prime Minister’s claim that his Government must tackle violent crime urgently by shutting down Parliament doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.

HISTORY’S RHYME

Henry VIII, Thomas Cromwell, Johnson and Cummings

Arthur Snell, 3 September 2019

As cliff-edge Britain searches around for historical analogies to a ‘No Deal’ Brexit, Arthur Snell discovers an infamous King and his ill-fated adviser are the most telling of all.

Boris Johnson’s No Deal Brexit Plot for the Lords Crashes and Burns

David Hencke, 4 September 2019

The fatal flaw in the Prime Minister’s plans to create 100 new ‘no deal’ Brexit-supporting peers.

Boris Johnson Grabbed the Crown he Always Wanted – But it is Falling Apart in his Hands

Otto English, 6 September 2019

As the Prime Minister’s Shakespearean comedy rumbles on, there is still a very real risk that it all might turn to tragedy instead.

A Constitutional Crisis? Boris Johnson’s Suspension of Parliament Ruled Unlawful

James Doleman, 11 September 2019

Will the UK Supreme Court agree with Scotland’s Court of Session when it makes a final decision on the proroguing of Parliament next week?

EXCLUSIVE

BREXIT DISASTER CAPITALISM

£8 Billion Bet on No Deal Crash-Out by Boris Johnson’s Leave Backers

Byline Times Team, 11 September 2019

While the Prime Minister defies the law and insists Britain will leave the European Union on 31 October, his backers stand to make billions out of the disaster.

UPDATE Why Boris Johnson’s Funding from Hedge Funds is a Matter of Public Interest

Byline Times Team, 12 September 2019

Following Byline Times’ story on the donors to the Prime Minister we provide more information on our findings and the importance for British politics

The Warning of an Empty Lectern: Why Boris Johnson’s Brexit Humiliation is Dangerous for All Europeans

Chris Keulemans, 17 September 2019

Dutch writer Chris Keulemans reflects on the battering Britain’s standing has taken with the rest of Europe – but warns there is no room for complacency anywhere.

SUPREME COURT RULING

A Bomb Thrown into the Centre of Boris Johnson’s ‘Do or Die’ Brexit?

James Doleman, 24 September 2019

Court reporter James Doleman on the momentous ruling by the highest court in the UK which has found the Prime Minister acted unlawfully in advising the Queen to prorogue Parliament.

Boris Johnson: The Mask Slips and the True Face of Populism Reveals Itself

Otto English, 26 September 2019

Otto English calls time on the eccentric Etonian image of ‘Boris’ and sees Johnson’s antagonism and disdain for Parliament as a dangerous parallel with 1930’s Germany.

‘He Must Comply’: Court Assured that Boris Johnson Will Ask EU for Brexit Extension if No Deal Reached

James Doleman, 7 October 2019

“It would be destructive of one of the core principles of constitutional propriety… for the Prime Minister or the Government to renege on what they have assured the court,” Lord Pentland ruled.

Court Asked to take EU Brexit Extension into its Own Hands to Keep in Check Boris Johnson’s “Trumpian” Tactics

James Doleman, 8 October 2019

James Doleman reports from Scotland’s Inner House of the Court of Session on another legal wrangle involving the Government on Brexit.

‘A Sikh Man Standing Up for Muslim Women Mattered in Exposing Boris Johnson’s Divide and Rule Dog Whistle Politics’

Hardeep Matharu, 10 October 2019

Hardeep Matharu sat down with MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi to discuss his passionate taking down of the Prime Minister and his derogatory comparisons labelling Muslim women as letter boxes and bank robbers.

Big Boris and Brexit Doublespeak Surround Us – Where Does the Truth Lie?

Otto English, 14 October 2019

Otto English considers how we have entered into an Orwellian world in which Brexit governs all and its supporters attempt to convince us daily that night is day and day is night.

‘The Idea is Trump and Boris are Alpha Males and their Ludicrous Sex Drive Tells You they are Winners’

Hardeep Matharu, 24 October 2019

As part of her Why Masculinity Matters series, Hardeep Matharu speaks to cultural commentator and writer Peter York about why ideas of toxic masculinity seem to be more relevant in politics than ever.

The Curious Tale of the Russian Spy’s Son and the Man who would be King of the World

Otto English, 22 October 2019

With Rupert Murdoch and the Barclay Brothers pulling out all the stops to back the Prime Minister, one crucial media player with a very interesting background is often overlooked.

SPOOKING THE SPOOKS

Media Complicity and Security Concerns over Lebedev and Johnson

Otto English, 25 October 2019

Otto English looks at the relationship between the son of a KGB spy and the Prime Minister and how it raises troubling questions about the closeness between media owners and politicians.

Government Found Out Over £100 Million Advertising Campaign – But Is the Truth Even Murkier?

Stephen Colegrave, 25 October 2019

Former Saatchi & Saatchi marketing director, Stephen Colegrave, continues to dig into how political advertising has gone rogue.

JOHNSON, GOVE, CUMMINGS

The Trio Behind a Law-Breaking Campaign Obstructing Further Investigation – What are they Hiding?

Ian Lucas MP, 28 October 2019

MP Ian Lucas asks why Boris Johnson and his team will not appear before Parliament’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee to answer his important questions about electoral law.