Boris Johnson: "They Were Looking at Engineering the Virus” & “The Government Tried To Bribe Me!"

In this candid conversation with Steven Bartlett, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson discusses his tumultuous rise to power and the personal struggles that shaped his leadership. Johnson opens up about his early years, including how glue ear made him deaf as a child and the lasting impact of his mother Charlotte's mental health crisis when she was admitted to a psychiatric ward. He reveals how his parents' volatile relationship and the question of whether they taught him about love and marriage became foundational to understanding his public persona. Johnson suggests that his well-known larger-than-life personality and distinctive communication style may be a marketing strategy developed early in life as a self-defense mechanism.

The conversation progresses through Johnson's political career, from his unexpected victory in the London mayorship to his role in the Brexit campaign. Johnson discloses that he actually wrote a secret pro-Remain letter, contradicting his public pro-Leave stance, and admits that the Leave campaign had no concrete plan for what would happen after a Brexit victory. When discussing the aftermath, he reflects on whether he regrets Brexit and acknowledges the significant downsides that have emerged, though he defends aspects of his decision.

A substantial portion of the episode focuses on COVID-19, where Johnson claims the virus was engineered in a lab. He recalls the timing of when he first heard about the virus and describes calling China and coordinating with Trump on pandemic response. Johnson discusses his lockdown policies, acknowledging that the tiering system was problematic while defending the overall approach. However, he admits the mental toll was considerable, particularly after his mother's death during the pandemic.

Johnson addresses several controversies directly, including the Partygate scandal that ultimately contributed to his resignation. He discusses his personal life, including his children and his relationship with Charlotte Owen. The former PM reflects on how someone without direct experience can rise to high-level political positions and emphasizes that in politics, bringing your friends and allies up with you is essential for success.

Throughout the interview, Johnson presents himself as unleashed from the constraints of office, willing to discuss topics he may have avoided as Prime Minister. The conversation paints a picture of a complex figure shaped by childhood adversity, political ambition, and the pressures of leading during unprecedented crises. Whether discussing class inequality in the UK, the government's leveling-up agenda, or his current plans, Johnson maintains his characteristic charisma while attempting to provide deeper insight into the man behind the public image.