BORIS IS DONE FOR

Oh Dear, Oh Dear, Oh Dear.

Boris Johnson's enemies have been gunning for him at every opportunity almost ever since he became leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister. Many supposed infractions have been laid at the door of Mr Johnson quite wrongly although he clearly bears responsibility for some. However, the latest revelations, concerning the former Deputy Chief Whip, surely are the final nail in his coffin.

For months, assorted members of the Government have been sent out to defend a range of claimed offences, usually of a minor nature although sometimes suggesting a degree of duplicity or impropriety on the part of the Prime Minister. The latest scandal revolves not around whether Christopher Pincher behaved badly, which he clearly did, but around what Mr Johnson previously knew about the errant MP, and the extent to which he ignored prior knowledge and even lied about what he knew.

Frankly, the evidence seems clear. Mr Johnson has known for several years that Mr Pincher was a problematic Member of Parliament but still appointed him to a government position. The immediate response from Mr Johnson's office when asked about Mr Pincher's previous history was to deny that he knew anything; within hours, that position has been turned on its head and it's now been shown that there was detailed prior knowledge. Voices from various government sources have done their best to explian all this away, but it is surely nothing but a vain attempt to paper over canyon sized cracks in the Prime Minister's remaining credibility.

As always, it's not the offence which causes problems it's the lies and cover ups. It's often been said that everyone knew of Mr Johnson's difficulties with openness, truth and honesty before he was elected but such an argument can only be trotted out so many times. This occasion is one time too many.

For me, Boris Johnson's time is now up. He has to go as soon as possible, for the good of the Government, Party and Country. 

SLEAZE, CORRUPTION & IMMORALITY - NOT JUST A TORY PROBLEM

Once again, the media is full of allegations of sleaze and misconduct amongst Conservative Members of Parliament. Once again, Keir Starmer and his cronies use the situation to call for the resignation of the Prime Minister, Government and anyone else they don't like.

But let's be clear. A number of Conservative MPs have been caught out doing things they shouldn't have, but over the years, members of the other parties have been caught being just as corrupt, immoral, and downright nasty. 

Labour's Barry Gardiner was very recently found to have accepted money from, and to have employed, a Chinese spy. Over the last 10 years, SEVEN Labour MPs have received prison sentences for an assortment of criminal offences - David Chayter, Eric Illsley, Denis MacShane, Fiona Onasanya, Jim Devine, Elliot Morley and Claudia Webbe. We can add to this the imprisonment of Chris Huhne, plus some pretty appalling allegations against Huhne's erstwhile colleague Cyril Smith and the very public disgracing of Paddy Ashdown, plus the recent jailing of Natalie McGarry, and there's nothing for either the Liberal Democrats or Scottish Nationalists to be 'holier than thou' about either. 

Members of Parliament behaving badly is nothing new, what is new is the reaction of the increasingly 'outraged' media. Crimes ranging from embezzlement to falsification of expenses claims, perverting the course of justice to sexual misconduct and much more, have been proven against numerous MPs from all parties, not just the Conservatives. Frankly, our representatives in Parliament are every bit as likely to fall foul of the law as are the rest of us, quite possibly more so as they probably have more opportunity and are less likely to believe they will be caught.

Corrupt politicians are nothing new, indeed being at least hypocritical liars is a prerequisite for the job.. They have always existed and always will. They come from all walks of life and all parties. The electorate needs to accept this and move on, as does the media, while sanctimonious public figures such as Starmer should really keep their mouths shut for fear of what is lurking in the darker recesses of their own cupboards.