Home Politics Boris Johnson’s Afghan trip cost more than £20K

Former British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson’s trip to Afghanistan on the day of the Heathrow Airport vote cost at least £20,000, a freedom of information request has revealed.

The trip on June 25 allowed Johnson to miss a crucial vote during which the U.K. parliament backed the expansion of Heathrow. The former foreign secretary has long been opposed to the addition of a third runway, famously saying he would lie down in front of bulldozers to prevent it from happening.

Documentation obtained by the Ferret showed the cost of three officials to accompany Johnson on the trip stood at £19,366. The Foreign Office refused to disclose the cost of Johnson’s flights — stating this would be published “in due course” — and also declined to reveal how long ahead of the visit the trip was planned.

Critics accused Johnson of taking the last-minute trip to Afghanistan to avoid having to abandon his position or resign his cabinet post to vote against the government. He reportedly spent just nine hours in Kabul.

Johnson stepped down as foreign secretary July 9 amid disagreement over the government’s Brexit position.


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