22 March 2023 , 22:04
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Boris Johnson had the opportunity yesterday to apologise for the pain that was caused by Partygate.
He could have shown some remorse for ignoring the rules that the vast majority of the country followed, often at great personal cost.
Instead his evidence was defensive, evasive and insulting. His claim it was important for morale that he attended what were clearly illegal leaving parties was deeply offensive to key workers who toiled through equally long hours in far more gruelling circumstances.
He had no plausible explanation for why he failed to realise the gatherings were not within the guidance he had authorised.
The former Prime Minister also sought to retrospectively rewrite the rules to excuse he and his colleagues’ appalling behaviour.
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade
His claim that the guidance did not have to be rigidly enforced showed a total contempt for those who could not hug loved ones in care homes or sat alone at funerals.
Whatever the committee decides, yesterday’s hearings showed him in his true light: devious, self-serving and entitled.
Sneaky Sunak
Rishi Sunak came to power promising integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level of government.
If the Prime Minister were true to his word he would not have released his tax return late yesterday afternoon in the full knowledge it would be overshadowed by Boris Johnson’s appearance before MPs and the controversial Brexit vote in the Commons.
Super-rich Mr Sunak’s sneaky attempt to bury bad news in this way is the very opposite of accountability and integrity.
It is not the Prime Minister’s personal wealth that is the problem, it is his failure to help those who are less fortunate.
Back in anger?
Some might say it will never happen but Oasis could reunite amid reports the Gallaghers have buried the hatchet.
Little by little, the wounds are healing.