Russian intelligence was eyeing Boris Johnson as far back as the 1980s and compiled a file on him. But it concluded that “such a maniacal self-publicist” was unsuitable as an intelligence source

Russian intelligence was eyeing Boris Johnson as far back as the 1980s and compiled a file on him. But it concluded that “such a maniacal self-publicist” was unsuitable as an intelligence source

Russian intelligence became interested in Boris Johnson as far back as the 1980s, when the former British prime minister was still an Oxford student. This is stated in a report by Christopher Steele (the author of the reports on Trump’s ties to the Kremlin) reviewed by The Telegraph.

The SVR compiled a file on Johnson noting his “high level of activity” in his studies and public life, and believed that he was showing “signs of a political career” that could be useful to Russian intelligence services.

In the end, however, Russian intelligence concluded that Johnson was unsuitable as a potentially useful source of information. The file stated that “such a maniacal self-publicist” could hardly be seriously considered “as a candidate for any deep and long-term ties with intelligence.”

“I find it incredible that the KGB in the 1980s was churning out notes about Oxford students. No wonder they lost the Cold War,” Johnson himself told The Telegraph.

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Russian intelligence was eyeing Boris Johnson as far back as the 1980s and compiled a file on him

Officers of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (now the SVR) compiled a file on Boris Johnson back in the 1980s, when the former British prime minister was still an Oxford student, The Telegraph writes.