Boris Johnson has made more than £1m from giving speeches since leaving No 10, parliamentary records show.

Is he building a “war chest” to fund a personal comeback? – Owl

BBC News www.bbc.co.uk

The former prime minister was paid £754,000 for three speeches in America, India and Portugal last month, according to the latest register of MPs’ interests.

It comes on top of £276,000 he made from a speech in October.

The records also show he and his family have continued to receive accommodation from Tory donor Lord Bamford.

Mr Johnson registered a further £3,500 in accommodation from the JCB boss and his wife Carole for November and December.

That was in addition to the £37,000 for accommodation he had previously registered from the couple since leaving office in September.

A previous entry specified it covered the cost of hiring a marquee, portable toilets, waiting staff, flowers, a South African BBQ and an ice cream van.

According to the latest update to the register, Mr Johnson was paid £277,723 by New York-based investment banking firm Centerview Partners for a speech on 9 November.

He then received £261,652 from the Hindustan Times for a speech on 17 November, and £215,275 from Portuguese TV station Televisao Independente for a speech on 23 November during the CNN Global Summit in Lisbon.

Mr Johnson was replaced as prime minister by Liz Truss in September, after his resignation in June.

His downfall followed a mass revolt by ministers over controversies including his handling of sexual misconduct allegations against former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher.

Mr Johnson faced criticism for being too slow to suspend Mr Pincher from the parliamentary party, following allegations he had groped two men in a private members’ club.

Mr Pincher stepped down from his government job in July, when he apologised for drinking “far too much” and embarrassing “myself and other people”.

The MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip attempted a surprise comeback in October, when he emerged as a possible replacement for Ms Truss after she resigned.

But he later ruled himself out of the leadership race, saying it was not possible to govern effectively without a united party.

There had been suggestions Mr Johnson would stand down from Parliament after he was ousted as prime minister but he has told his local Conservative Party he will stand again as an MP at the next general election.

The East Devon highways and traffic orders committee has voted for a planning application to be made for the route between Mosshayne Lane and Cranbrook, and to start acquiring the land needed.

Ollie Heptinstall, Local Democracy Reporter eastdevonnews.co.uk

The 1.5 km off-road walking/cycling route from Cranbrook’s Station Road will connect to the proposed Clyst Valley Trail and become part of the Exeter cycle network that connects Cranbrook to the city centre.

The proposed Mosshayne to Cranbrook cycle link. Image: DCC.

In a report, the council was told the existing shared-use path along the London Road B3174 is “inadequate for the expected demand and not compliant with current guidance, nor suitable for all users.”

The report added that “significant growth” between Cranbrook and the M5 will “increase traffic volumes on the B3174, making the current route unattractive for people to use to access employment, education or leisure opportunities.”

The new route will provide an “attractive and direct alternative link away from traffic between Exeter and the Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone (Cranbrook, SkyPark), enabling short to medium distance journeys to be converted to active travel.”

Councillor Sara Randall-Johnson (Conservative, Broadclyst) asked whether cyclists and pedestrians could be separated along the trail, but she was told the council had decided against this as it would mean the trail would have to be five metres wide – “too intrusive to this particular area.”

An officer added: “With our shared space signing campaign and other methods we need to make sure that we encourage people to behave properly when they’re on bikes but also people walking with dogs etc.”

Cllr Randall-Johnson later said that she didn’t think the width of 3.5 metres is enough, given the increasing size of Cranbrook. “This is not a rural area any more. This is very much an urban area and we should be planning for it.”

Cllr Phil Twiss (Conservative, Feniton) supported the proposal, saying he was encouraged to use his e-bike due to Exeter being “basically a large car park after you go under the M5 bridge.”

He also asked for cyclists to be involved in preparing the detailed plan for the route.

Devon County Council intends to submit a planning application next winter. Subject to approval and funding, construction could start in the financial year 2024/25.