While at Oxford, he was a member of the Bullingdon Club together with Harry Mount, Nathaniel Rothschild and George Osborne, with whom he remains a close friend.

After a sabbatical in 1999/2000 during which he gained an MBA from INSEAD, he returned to become Paris correspondent (2001–05), and then as South Asia bureau chief based in New Delhi (2005–08).

[17][18] Previous 'Heads of Lex' include Nigel Lawson, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Martin Taylor, former chief executive of Barclays Bank, and Richard Lambert, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry.

Johnson's books include the co-authored The Man Who Tried To Buy the World (Penguin, 2003),[19] about the French businessman Jean-Marie Messier.

He co-edited, with Rajiv Kumar (secretary general, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) Reconnecting Britain and India: Ideas for an Enhanced Partnership (Academic Foundation 2011).

[20] He commentated on radio and television,[21][22] and spoke in public on the rise of India, as well as on the UK political economy and financial affairs.

[citation needed] In 2009, he was selected as the Conservative parliamentary candidate for the safe seat of Orpington in the London Borough of Bromley from a shortlist of six contenders.

Johnson's appointment to head up the Downing Street policy unit was viewed as surprising by The Guardian as he was perceived as being more pro-European and left-leaning than most Conservatives.

Universities UK pointed out that British higher education institutions benefit from around £1.2 billion in European research funding each year.

[34][35] Johnson called on his Conservative Party MPs to vote down Theresa May's Brexit deal on 11 December 2018, stating that it was 'half baked' and the 'worst of both worlds'.

[37][38][35] On 24 July 2019, it was announced that Jo Johnson was appointed Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation – this position would mean he would be attending the meetings of the cabinet.

[41] On 5 September, Johnson resigned as a Minister and announced he would stand down as MP, describing his position as "torn between family and national interest".

"[citation needed] On 31 July 2020, the announcement was made of Johnson's elevation to the House of Lords as part of the 2019 Dissolution Honours.