LONDON: Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Friday that he will be joining the right-leaning channel GB News. In his first major broadcast role since stepping down as an MP this summer, following an investigation into the Partygate scandal, Johnson expressed his enthusiasm for the new venture. He added: “I will be talking about the immense opportunities for Global Britain — as well as the challenges — and why our best days are yet to come.” GB News, a network known for its right-wing political leanings, confirmed that Johnson would be joining as a presenter, program-maker and commentator. “Boris, who joins in the new year, will play a key role in the channel’s coverage of both the UK general election and the US elections next year,” the network said. In a video posted on social media platform X, the former Tory leader said that he would provide “unvarnished views on everything from Russia, China, the war in Ukraine,” and discuss how the UK addresses “those challenges … (and) the huge opportunities that lie ahead for us.” Johnson made headlines in June by announcing that he had secured a “six-figure” columnist position at the Daily Mail. However, he later faced scrutiny for violating the ministerial code by failing to inform the parliamentary watchdog. Since its launch in 2021, GB News has been the subject of criticism for its controversial stances on topics such as the war in Ukraine, issues related to Islamophobia and, more recently, the Hamas-Israeli conflict. Earlier this week, the UK communication regulator, Ofcom, decided to take no action against the channel for breaches of impartiality related to two interviews that were deemed “insufficiently challenged.”