The former Conservative leader has shared his thoughts after the passing of the well-known media personality Rod Liddle, describing the reaction as an overwhelming wave of sorrow.
Boris Johnson, who represented Henley as a Member of Parliament before entering Downing Street, currently resides in the vicinity of Wallingford with his family.
He has publicly commented following the death of the journalist and commentator.
Liddle passed away on Sunday 2 August following a brief illness, concluding a lengthy career in journalism.
His professional background included serving as editor of BBC Radio 4’s influential Today programme during the period spanning 1998 to 2002.
Additionally, he worked as an author, broadcaster and regular newspaper columnist, with numerous articles generating significant controversy.
He also held the position of associate editor at the political publication The Spectator, a role that connected him professionally with Johnson, who served as the magazine’s editor from 1999 until 2005.
Johnson has now contributed a commentary piece to The Spectator addressing the emotional response generated by the announcement.
In the article, he explained the depth of mourning experienced by Liddle’s extensive readership.
The former prime minister characterised Liddle’s newspaper columns as providing shelter and sanctuary, offering readers the opportunity to acknowledge sensible viewpoints that had subsequently become socially unacceptable while also finding amusement in life’s ridiculous aspects.
He noted that contemporaries within journalism had adopted a more cautious approach, whereas Liddle maintained his distinctive style.
Johnson expressed that Liddle had grown increasingly remarkable in recent years, continuing to publish from what he described as a solitary but distinguished position.
Prior to this extended commentary, Johnson had taken to social media to convey his distress, describing Liddle as an extraordinarily witty and talented writer possessing a naturally engaging style of expression.