Boris turns down editor job

Who will take over the Evening Standard, the ailing London freesheet currently losing £14 million a year? One name floated by those in the know is a certain Boris Johnson. The chatter at the Northcliffe House is that the former PM decided against it, with one old hand suggesting that Johnson thought the paper was not long for this world. A spokesman for Johnson did not deny he’d been offered the role when asked but refused to comment.

Johnson would have been a rare catch for proprietor Evgeny Lebedev, a global figure with decades of journalistic experience. Liz Truss must be relieved that her predecessor has so far decided against a return to his old Fleet Street stomping ground. Earlier this week documents appeared on Companies House registering Boris Johnson Ltd, which will reportedly act as a private office to help the ex-PM in his day-to-day duties.