To the last, Johnson shows contempt for the truth - and parliament

 It was typical of the man to deliver his farewell speech to the media in the theatrical setting of Downing Street rather than to the House of Commons where his statement could be questioned. He did later fulfil a requirement to show up at prime minister's question time and to propose a motion of confidence, but Speaker Hoyle has constantly criticised Johnson for his contempt of parliament and has followed up with a threatened reference to the Committee of Privileges.

That motion of confidence in his government was probably put down in order to forestall motions of no-confidence proposed by both Sir Keir Starmer and Sir Ed Davey. As I write this, opinion surveys of Conservative party members point to Liz Truss being elected to succeed Johnson. Leaks, either from the Johnson camp or the Truss camp or both suggest that Johnson will be a minister in a Truss cabinet, so that the next administration will be a Johnson continuation government in all but name. What follows was intended to be an obituary of Johnsonism but now looks to be part of a running commentary. 

It is a pity that the leaders of both the Labour party and Lib Dems chose to concentrate their attack on the government's record on the cost and quality of living. Ian Blackford for the SNP spoke of the PM's quality of character (or lack of it) and of course the benefits of Scottish independence. The politics of these lines of attack is understandable. When they are relayed on broadcast bulletins or in the press, they reinforce the concerns of many people, including a rising number of the middle classes who used to provide the bedrock of Conservative support. However, these messages are constantly being put out independently of parliament. The Commons should be a place of debate, where ideas are examined, arguments are put to the test. Johnson's assertions were largely uncontested. The fact that he slunk out of the Chamber before the bulk of the debate does not matter. Enough of his supporters were there to hear counter-arguments and dispute them if they could, and of course there is a record in Hansard. As it is, too much of what he has claimed is assumed to be the truth because it has not been contradicted, except in the inside pages of The Guardian, i and high-end monthlies. Oh, and Private Eye, of course.

We do have to accept one of his claims. As a result of his election victory of 2019, UK achieved the hardest possible Brexit. He drove the European Medicines Agency out of London back to the continent. Passport checks were reintroduced between the UK and the rest of Europe. That was all supposed to be a Good Thing. Drivers and owners of trucks queuing at UK ports may beg to differ. (Families hoping for a swift channel crossing and a continental holiday are no doubt regarded as Remainer Traitors who deserve all they get.) 

To be continued.