Maybe we need a 'bad chaps' theory of government

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In a plot twist so obvious and predictable that even Nadine Dorries would have avoided writing it, it has emerged that former PM Boris Johnson appears to have been using the public funds allocated to his office, alongside his contacts made whilst in office, to enrich himself. Yawn. Labour’s Margaret Hodge declared that the reports suggest that “Boris Johnson is prepared to break the ethical standards of behaviour” (yawn again) and appeared to have acted “with complete impunity” (double yawn). From a man who has gone through life ignoring all rules and doing as he pleased to satisfy his own needs and desires, none of this is a shock or even a mild surprise. None of which stopped the Lib Dems’ Cabinet Office spokesperson Sarah Olney from declaring that “These allegations are extremely shocking”. Anyone genuinely shocked by these allegations would probably also be surprised to discover that the Pope is a Catholic. Even the Lib Dems can’t be that naïve.

The Guardian’s report also states that: “Revelations from the Boris Files will place pressure on Johnson to explain how some of his recent contacts with foreign governments on behalf of commercial interest fall within the rules”. No they won’t. This is a man completely impervious to pressure or criticism, and who adheres to the Mary Poppins maxim of never explaining anything. In this case, the ‘rules’ he has broken appear to be both unwritten and unenforceable. All the revelations really prove is that the ‘good chap’ theory of government only works when those involved are ‘good chaps’. But there is no mechanism for ensuring that they are – or for dealing with those who aren’t. And we already knew that.