Alexander Kemal (aka “Johnson” – incidentally, he is no more a “Johnson” than I am – my g-grandmother, too, was a “Johnson” – in her case the daughter of an honest Northampton cobbler) faces legal action over his refusal to investigate Russian meddling in UK elections.

I don’t blame him – if I were a prime minister Hell bent on a policy that will destroy the UK’s economy and international reputation, applauded by the Kremlin, but not by a majority of the British; and if I too had elevated to the House of Lords the son of a distinguished former member of the KGB; I too would be reluctant to set up an investigation that might, just, question my connections and my motives.