Amongst the many qualities of our would-be “world king,” the Flatulent Leader, are lethargy, complacency, evasiveness and, it grieves me to add, cowardice.  Whether or not he is stupid – the bumbling incompetence is universally held to be a  sham – depends on your view of hack journalism vis-à-vis literary merit.   It is certain that he has the moral back-bone of a jelly fish.

One other aspect of his character – or lack of it – that needs to be understood is a yearning to be popular: poor Boris, he wants to be liked.  Unfortunately, in the foot prints of every braggardly coward from Flashman onwards, he prefers to be liked by weak, loud-mouthed, toadies than by the humdrum, hard working, run of the mill.

No doubt, we are in unprecedented times,  but the extent of our predicament is exacerbated by a government which failed to make necessary preparation when there was a little time; and now fails to take decisive action when required as a matter of urgency.  Johnson and his cronies account their popularity above their duty: they ask people not to strip the supermarket shelves, but they will not introduce rationing;  they beg people to adopt social distancing, but they will not mandate it; they tell us schools will be shut, and in the next breath we are told they will remain open, for some.   Where are the protective suits needed by health workers?  Who is to ensure the supplies of fruit and vegetables?  Who has responsibility to see that the weak and elderly do not fester in self-isolation? Why is a policy of rudimentary rationing drawn up by supermarket supremo’s and not government ministers?  Why has clear medical advice (key symptoms, necessary actions and phone numbers) not been issued and available, preferably, door to door?

The answer to these, and a myriad more pressing issues, is that a weak and vain man, our scruffy, crumpled, prime minister,  chooses  to place his personal comfort and applause above the welfare of the country.