The article that made Boris ‘hang my head in shame’

Boris Johnson has written more than his fair share of controversial stuff over the years. Whether it’s jibes at Islam, the Commonwealth or Barack Obama, general statements about blue collar men, working women and single mothers or, er, advice on handling female Spectator employees – ‘just pat her on the bottom and send her on her way’ – there’s always been something to annoy the left.

He, for his part, is largely unapologetic, claiming in the 2019 election debates that: ‘If you go through all my articles with a fine-tooth comb and pick out individual phrases, there’s no doubt that you can take out things that can be made to seem offensive.’ But even Boris has some regrets – as he revealed in an Independent article in 2002. Headed ‘my greatest mistake’, it was part of a series in which famous celebs detailed their errors and misdemeanors.

The-then Henley backbencher and Speccie editor claimed ‘my biggest cock-up’ was the infamous incident during his short-lived tenure as a Times graduate trainee when Johnson claimed Edward II and Piers Gaveston had cavorted in the remains of the former’s Rose Palace.