Boris Johnson

WE didn’t really need any further proof that the UK’s bubble of political reporters had failed at their jobs when it came to Boris Johnson, but the UK Covid-19 Inquiry is adding another layer of concrete.

It’s galling to see some very well-paid journalists talk about how shocking, incredible and astonishing they think the evidence being made public this week is. Johnson, it turns out, did not have the competence to lead the country as PM especially in a time of national crisis, as was the rapid spread of the coronavirus.

We’ve heard how callous and selfish, and downright stupid – “can you cure Covid with a hair dryer up your nose?” – the man had been. And yet, why should any of this have been a surprise, not least to the political press pack which were supposed to be holding him to account. Johnson has spent years showing us what he’s all about, never disguising it.

But then this is the spoonfed and tamed press corps who took a year to report on the Downing Street lockdown parties.

This meant Johnson had another year to do even more damage to the country before his downfall.

It was a cheek to brand the revelation of the party as a scoop.