Johnson met key lobbyist while he was prime minister

Boris Johnson failed to disclose that while serving as prime minister he met a uranium lobbyist connected to a co-director at his green energy consultancy Better Earth Limited.

- HOLLY EVANS

The news comes after The Independent revealed that Mr Johnson had employed former aide Charlotte Owen as the firm’s vicepresident, despite facing fierce criticism for elevating her to the House of Lords at the age of 29.

Transparency campaigners have now warned there appear to be “serious public interest questions” over the nature of the former Tory leader’s relationship with his co-director Amir Adnani, The Observer reports.

Mr Adnani, a Canadian citizen, is the founder, president and CEO of Uranium Energy Corp, a US-based mining company that had previously been championed by former Trump adviser Steve Bannon.

Mr Johnson met Scott Melbye, the executive vice-president of Uranium Energy Corp, in Westminster in May 2022, while he was still prime minister.

Better Earth was incorporated last December by Mr Adnani, who is the director of a number of offshore companies in the British Virgin Islands.

Companies House filings show “The Rt Hon Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson” was added as a director and chair in May, while Ms Owen was added as vice-president this summer.

News of her latest role emerged in a two-line entry in her Lords register of interests in the last month. Her salary was not disclosed.