Boris Johnson, Ukraine Trips, and the Fine Art of 'Donor Diplomacy'
Mainstream outlets highlight that former UK PM Boris Johnson recently schlepped to Ukraine, notably accompanied by mega-donor Christopher Harborne, who reportedly gifted Johnson £1 million in late 2022. The BBC and The Guardian noted this, suggesting questions about influence. But what they don't quite emphasize is the standard operating procedure here: 'donor access' isn't unique to Johnson, nor
to UK politics. It's a global disease where those with the deepest pockets get a seat at the table—or, apparently, on the plane—for 'informal' discussions that often turn into profitable ventures. Harborne's past donations to various conservative figures, including significant sums to the Tories before Johnson’s tenure, merely illustrate a consistent pattern: money buys proximity to power, even
post-power. One might wonder if the conversation en route to a warzone focused less on global solidarity and more on, say, future 'consulting opportunities' or investment prospects. Because when a politician who took £1 million and an 'ardent backer of Kiev' flies with his benefactor, it's not a holiday; it's a field trip for capital.