Like many on Wednesday morning I tuned into breakfast telly whilst dishing out the cereal.
Amidst the chaos of getting everyone fed, ready and out of the house, I assumed I’d missed the government minister.
Listening to the radio on the way to the office, I heard they couldn’t get a minister on.
It was just after 8am that it became clear the Prime Minister had lost his authority, and lost control.
Boris Johnson couldn’t get anyone to bat for him on the airwaves.
They couldn’t defend what the nation had seen the night before – that he and his mates had broken the rules, tried to cover it up, and were laughing at us about it. Literally.
Amused by those who had followed the rules, for themselves, for their families and for everyone round them.
Chuckling at the people that strictly stood in the cold on their elderly parents’ drives to check they were managing on their own.
Sniggering at those that ate their Christmas dinner alone, because that’s what their government told them to do.
The government had declared it to be ‘crime week’. And in many ways, it was.
We learned of Downing Street parties when the law didn’t allow them.
The Prime Minister stood at the despatch box, denying he knew anything about it.
And now the latest charge, did he really not know for so long who was paying for the decoration of his flat?
As Chief Prosecutor for five years, I can tell you I’ve seen some denials in my time. And I’ve got to give it to him, Boris Johnson has his act nailed.
For so much of his career he’s been the court jester, the entertainer. And it’s worked. But we’ve all seen it too many times, and the joke isn’t funny anymore.
One year to the day since Margaret Keenan got the first vaccine in the UK, on Wednesday people were looking for an update on the booster rollout.
They tuned into TV or radio to check if it might be their turn, and to see if they can book their wife, husband, mum or dad in yet.
Boris Johnson is too busy denying what he knows and when he knew it that he’s missing in action. He’s lost his grip, and people are paying the price.
These are serious times, that require leadership. It’s amazing this needs saying, but that leadership should be honest, decent and simply straight up with people.
When Boris Johnson’s not speaking in Latin, he’s speaking in slogans. That was frustrating enough. But now it’s worse. He’s speaking untruths.
Labour will put public health before political games this coming Tuesday, by voting for the new Covid measures.
Whilst the Prime Minister continues to take the public for fools, we will do the right thing to keep people safe.
I’ll even come on the TV to talk about it.
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