Johnson Began Work at The Times

In late 1987, Boris Johnson began his career as a graduate trainee at The Times, a prominent British newspaper. His entry into journalism was facilitated by family connections, which provided him with the opportunity to work in a competitive field. However, his tenure at The Times was marred by controversy shortly after he started. Johnson wrote an article regarding the archaeological discovery of Edward II's palace, which included a fabricated quote that he attributed to Colin Lucas, a historian and his godfather. This act of journalistic misconduct raised serious ethical questions about his integrity and professionalism. The situation escalated when the editor of The Times, Charles Wilson, became aware of the false attribution. As a result, Johnson was dismissed from his position, marking a tumultuous beginning to his career in journalism.