Since leaving Government, Johnson has focused on the role of technology in widening access to education. He was appointed non-executive chairman at Tes in December 2019. He is also now chairman of Access Creative College,[4] the largest independent provider of further education and training for the creative industries, and of FutureLearn, the global digital learning platform.[5] He is also a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School,[6] and President's Professorial Fellow at King's College London.[7] He has since returned to his work as a journalist at outlets including the Financial Times.[8]
Johnson resigned his directorship after 8 months service, at Elara Capital PLC on the 1 February 2023.[9][10][11] His resignation statement, (by email) acknowledged recognition that his former role "requires greater domain expertise in specialised areas of financial regulation than I anticipated and, accordingly, I have resigned from the board."[10]
In 1997, he switched career paths and joined the Financial Times. After a sabbatical in 1999/2000 during which he gained an MBA from INSEAD, he returned to become Paris correspondent (2001–05), and then as South Asia bureau chief based in New Delhi (2005–08). On return to London he became an associate editor of the Financial Times and head of the Lex Column, one of the most influential positions in British financial journalism.[17][18]
Previous 'Heads of Lex' include Nigel Lawson, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Martin Taylor, former chief executive of Barclays Bank, and Richard Lambert, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry. Johnson left the Lex column in April 2010. He received awards for his journalism from a range of organisations, including the Foreign Press Association, the Society of Publishers in Asia and The Indian Express's Excellence in Journalism Awards.
Johnson's books include the co-authored The Man Who Tried To Buy the World (Penguin, 2003),[19] about the French businessman Jean-Marie Messier. This was serialised in The Guardian and published in France as Une faillite française by Albin Michel in 2002. He co-edited, with Rajiv Kumar (secretary general, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) Reconnecting Britain and India: Ideas for an Enhanced Partnership (Academic Foundation 2011).[20]
He commentated on radio and television,[21][22] and spoke in public on the rise of India, as well as on the UK political economy and financial affairs.[citation needed]
He increased the Conservative share of the vote in the constituency by 5.5% points to 62.9% at the general election in June 2017, although his majority declined to 19,453.[25]
Johnson's appointment to head up the Downing Street policy unit was viewed as surprising by The Guardian as he was perceived as being more pro-European and left-leaning than most Conservatives.[27]
In this role, Johnson introduced the Higher Education and Research Act 2017, which the Times Higher Education described as the most significant legislation in 25 years. This overhauled the regulatory framework for English universities, replaced the Higher Education Funding Council for England with a new regulator, the Office for Students, and established mechanisms to hold universities more accountable for the quality of teaching and student outcomes.[31] The Act also created a new single national strategic research body, UK Research and Innovation, bringing together the UK's fragmented research funding bodies.[32]
On 9 November 2018, Johnson resigned his position, citing disillusionment with the government's Brexit strategy and called for a fresh vote on Brexit with an option to remain. Johnson argued that Britain was "on the brink of the greatest crisis" since World War Two and claimed that what was on offer was not "anything like what was promised".[34][35]
Brexit
Johnson called on his Conservative Party MPs to vote down Theresa May's Brexit deal on 11 December 2018, stating that it was 'half baked' and the 'worst of both worlds'.[36] Johnson resigned as a minister in December 2018 because he wanted to be free to endorse a proposed referendum on the Brexit withdrawal agreement.[37][38][35]
Minister in Boris Johnson's Cabinet
On 24 July 2019, it was announced that Jo Johnson was appointed Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation – this position would mean he would be attending the meetings of the cabinet.[39][40] He was appointed to the privy council the next day.[41] On 5 September, Johnson resigned as a Minister and announced he would stand down as MP, describing his position as "torn between family and national interest".[42][43][44] He stood down at the next general election rather than resigning. A Downing Street spokesman said: "The prime minister would like to thank Jo Johnson for his service... The constituents of Orpington could not have asked for a better representative."[citation needed]
House of Lords
On 31 July 2020, the announcement was made of Johnson's elevation to the House of Lords as part of the 2019 Dissolution Honours.[45][46] It was his elder brother Boris Johnson who established his peerage.[47] He was created Baron Johnson of Marylebone, of Marylebone in the City of Westminster, on 29[48] October.[49][50] He delivered his maiden speech on the afternoon of Thursday 4 March 2021.
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Lawson, Alex (19 December 2022). "Jo Johnson resigns from Binance advisory role". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. ISSN0261-3077. Retrieved 20 December 2022. His older brother and then prime minister handed him a seat in the Lords the following year.
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