About
Stanley Johnson, the father of former PM Boris Johnson, was educated at Exeter College, Oxford, where he won the prestigious Newdigate Prize for Poetry. Following his studies, he was awarded a Harkness Fellowship to attend Columbia University in New York.
His early career began at the World Bank, working on economic development projects, before moving to the European Commission, where he headed the Prevention of Pollution Division and helped lay the foundations for some of Europe’s first coordinated environmental policies, focusing on key areas including clean air, water protection, and pollution control.
In 1979, Stanley was elected as a Conservative Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the constituency of Wight and Hampshire East. Serving until 1984, he became known for his strong advocacy on environmental issues within the European Parliament, helping to advance legislation on nature conservation, pollution prevention, and sustainable development. His work played an influential role in shaping the emerging European environmental agenda at a time when such matters were only beginning to gain political urgency. He also contributed to discussions on public health, fisheries, and animal welfare policy.
Alongside his political work, Stanley has built an extensive literary career, authoring more than 25 books across a wide range of genres, including political fiction, environmental protection and global conservation, population studies, thrillers, and memoir. His fiction often draws from his real-world experience, weaving sharp political insight with compelling storytelling. Notable works include The Commissioner, later adapted into a film starring John Hurt, The Doomsday Project, and Virus. His most recent novel, Kompromat, a satirical political thriller about foreign interference in Western democracies, was praised by The Sunday Times as “brilliant” and lauded by The Wall Street Journal for its wit and relevance.
Beyond his political and literary achievements, Stanley has remained a tireless advocate for wildlife conservation, biodiversity and sustainable population growth. He has collaborated with leading organisations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and has been recognised with awards including the Greenpeace Prize for Outstanding Services to the Environment and the RSPCA’s Richard Martin Award.
Stanley is also well known to the British public through his television appearances, including ITV’s I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and BBC’s Have I Got News For You, where his charisma and wit have made him a popular figure. He continues to contribute to newspapers, television, and radio on environmental and political matters.
Further Information:
Website: Stanleyjohnson.org
