Three of the greatest – arguably the greatest – American comic actors of all time were… British.  The first, Charlie Chaplin, needs no introduction.  The second, Arthur Jefferson, maybe a little less familiar – until I mention that his stage name was Stan Laurel; and the third, best known for the role of Orville “Turkey” Jackson, was none other than Leslie Townes “Bob” Hope.

These three bestrode the twentieth century.  And they did so without being crudely offensive, without being cruel, albeit they were a little cheeky and, in the case of numbers 1 and 3, perhaps a little tight of fist; but each one them in their stage persona, and I believe their own character, displayed a touching sensitivity for the unfortunate, the down trodden, the “little guy.”

The clowning is there – who could doubt Boris Johnson’s buffonery ?  The little tramp now lives in No. 10 – but the empathy,  instinctive understanding of the despair and unhappiness,  of those less fortunate is a key factor entirely missing from today’s government.  Their mantra “Greed is good. Do as we say, not as we do,” is a recipe for a society of shocking callousness in which the elderly, the infirm, the young, the defenceless are thrown to the wall.  The impact of covid-19 is worse in Britain than any other European country;  opportunities for students are torn away; the dole queue grows;  government ministers who in previous years would have been hounded from office – the likes of Jenrick, Patel, Rabb and Williamson, cling to their ministerial salaries, no humiliation is too much;  the nightmare of Brexit will be fast upon us. 

And the Prime Minister doesn’t give a damn.  Remember Max Hasting’s prophetic words: “he [Johnson] is unfit for national office, because it seems he cares for no interest save his own fame and gratification.”