Boris Johnson forgets to thank family at his book launch

Londoner’s Diary

Tories past and present packed into a room at the Institute of Directors on Pall Mall on Tuesday for Boris Johnson’s book launch. The 784-page memoir chronicles Johnson’s rise in politics from mayor to prime minister. “A lot of people have said it’s shatteringly revelatory,” Johnson modestly claimed in a recent interview.

Johnson opened his speech at the launch with a toast to Keir Starmer. The Prime Minister was meant to release an autobiography last year with the same publisher, HarperCollins, but ended up ditching the plan and returning the £18,000 advance. “That is why Mr Harper and Mr Collins can afford to have this party tonight,” joked Johnson, “because of Keir Starmer’s totally uncharacteristic decision to hand back a donation. So cheers, Keir!”

Thanks to everyone that came to the launch party of my book “Unleashed” last night.

Unleashed tomorrow - pre-order your copy here: https://t.co/AsjIEPwsFZ pic.twitter.com/zflea0VKrl

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) October 9, 2024

The ex-PM went on to claim that if not for “a tiny handful of random events”, he would have won the 2024 election. Among the offending events? “If only my friend Chris Pincher had not allowed his hand to wander freely.”

Despite writing a long, multi-page speech, Johnson had to clamber back on stage to make an addendum. “I realised that I made one crucial omission in my list of thanks, and I forgot to say thank you to all my family,” he said, to jeers from the crowd.

NEW A timely photo as Tory MPs decide who to back tomorrow…

Boris Johnson meets Conservative leadership front runner James Cleverly at the former PM’s book launch tonight. pic.twitter.com/npIRz69KDq

— Christopher Hope📝 (@christopherhope) October 8, 2024

Among the guests were Tory leadership hopeful James Cleverly and his wife Susie, reality TV star Georgia Toffolo, who starred in I’m a Celebrity with Stanley Johnson, Spectator editor Michael Gove and a raft of Johnson loyalists, including Priti Patel, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Andrea Jenkyns and Nadine Dorries, who said Johnson was on “excellent form”.