Johnson identifies as a one-nation conservative and has been associated with both economically and socially liberal policies.
Born in New York City to upper-middle class British parents, Johnson was educated at the European School, Brussels I, Ashdown House, and Eton College. He later became The Daily Telegraph' s Brussels correspondent, with his articles exerting a strong influence on growing Eurosceptic sentiment among the British right-wing.
He largely adhered to the Conservatives’ party line but adopted a more socially liberal stance on issues such as LGBT rights in parliamentary votes.
Selected as the Conservative candidate for the 2008 London mayoral election, Johnson defeated Labour incumbent Ken Livingstone and resigned from the British House of Commons. During his first term as Mayor of London, he banned alcohol consumption on much of the capital’s public transport, and introduced the New Routemaster buses, cycle hire scheme, and Thames cable car.He was subsequently appointed Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by Theresa May, but resigned in criticism of May’s approach to Brexit and the Chequers Agreement two years later.
Supporters have praised him as an entertaining, humorous, and popular figure, with an appeal stretching beyond traditional conservative voters. He has been criticised by figures on both the left and the right for using racist and homophobic language, as well as alleged elitism, cronyism, dishonesty, and laziness.
