The former foreign secretary (pictured in London today) has returned to his role as a columnist for the Daily Telegraph despite failing to get permission from the appointments watchdog, Acoba

Boris Johnson has broken rules that ban ex-Cabinet ministers from taking up new jobs for three months after leaving office.

The former foreign secretary has returned to his role as a columnist for the Daily Telegraph despite failing to get permission from the appointments watchdog, Acoba.

Under the ministerial code, former ministers must apply to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) before accepting a new role.

The rules also stop ministers who have been members of the Cabinet from starting new appointments in the first three months after stepping down.

Mr Johnson, who gave up his £275,000-a-year Daily Telegraph column when he was appointed foreign secretary in July 2016, made his comeback in the newspaper yesterday with an article arguing that Britain must believe in itself after Brexit.

A spokesman for Acoba said Mr Johnson had not sought its advice, as required, before returning to the role.

Despite breaking the rules, it is likely Me Johnson will get away with a slap on the wrists as the watchdog does not have the power to sanction former ministers who do not follow its advice.

Last night critics said it shows yet again why there needs to be a ‘radical overhaul’ of the system.

Jon Trickett, Labour’s Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, said: ‘Boris Johnson jumping straight from his role as a Government Minister to a job as a columnist makes a mockery of Acoba.

'If it was in anyway a functioning body, this kind of thing would be blocked.

‘Acoba hasn't got the teeth to stop this behaviour. We urgently need a radical overhaul of the system.’

The Prime Minister is meeting her Cabinet as she tries to stave off another existential challenge to her strategy for leaving the EU in the Commons

Earlier this year, the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee branded Acoba ‘ineffectual’ and accused ministers of failing to take seriously the issue of the 'revolving door' between the public and private sector.

Baroness Browning, the chair of Acoba, has previously said that former ministers and senior civil servants who do not follow its advice should face criminal prosecution.

Mr Johnson last night refused to comment. In his column published yesterday, he avoided direct criticism of Theresa May or her Brexit plan.

He wrote: ‘I will resist – for now – the temptation to bang on about Brexit.’