Wikipedia (en)
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (born 19 June 1964) is a British politician, popular historian, and journalist who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Uxbridge and South Ruislip since 2015. Formerly Mayor of London from 2008 until 2016, Johnson previously served as the MP for Henley from 2001 until 2008. A member of the Conservative Party, Johnson identifies as a One-Nation Conservative and has been described as a libertarian due to his association with both economically liberal and socially liberal policies.
Born in New York City to upper middle-class English parents, Johnson was educated at the European School of Brussels, Ashdown House School, and Eton College. He studied Classics at Balliol College, Oxford, where he was elected president of the Oxford Union in 1986. Beginning his career in journalism at The Times, 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 became assistant editor from 1994 to 1999 before taking the editorship of The Spectator from 1999 to 2005. Joining the Conservatives, he was elected as MP for Henley in 2001 and under Conservative leaders Michael Howard and David Cameron he served on the Shadow Cabinet as Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries and then for Higher Education. Making regular television appearances, authoring books, and remaining active in journalism, Johnson became one of the most conspicuous politicians in Britain.
Selected as Conservative candidate for the London mayoral election of 2008, Johnson defeated Labour incumbent Ken Livingstone and resigned his seat in parliament. During his first term as mayor, he banned alcohol consumption on public transport, introduced the New Routemaster buses and cycle hire scheme, and championed London's financial sector. In 2012, he was re-elected as mayor, again defeating Livingstone; during his second term he oversaw the 2012 Summer Olympics. In 2015 he was elected as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, stepping down as mayor the following year and becoming a prominent figure in the Brexit campaign. He is now considered a leading prospective contender for the leadership of the Conservative Party.
Johnson is a controversial figure in British politics and journalism. Supporters have praised him as an entertaining, humorous, and popular figure with appeal beyond traditional Conservative voters. Critics have accused him of laziness and dishonesty, using racist and xenophobic language, and elitism. The author of various books, he is also the subject of several biographies and a number of fictionalised portrayals.