Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under fire for appointing Charlotte Owen as vice-chair despite her lack of experience in the energy sector. This comes after Johnson failed to disclose a meeting with a uranium lobbyist during his time as Prime Minister, just before striking a new deal with a controversial Iranian-Canadian uranium entrepreneur.
In 2022, while still Prime Minister, Johnson secretly met with representatives from the American uranium mining company, Uranium Energy Corp. The controversy deepened in May 2024, when the former British politician became a director of Better Earth, a British offshore-registered subsidiary where his former aide, Charlotte Owen, is also employed.
The current British cabinet has expressed concerns over potential conflicts of interest: “Due to the unknown nature of Better Earth’s clients, there is a risk that Johnson and Owen may be engaged in successful lobbying efforts towards the British government in connection with certain contracts.”
Translated and edited by Alex Kada
