The shameful behaviour in Downing Street exposed by Sue Gray will be a permanent stain on Boris Johnson and his sordid Government.
Our Prime Minister presided over a culture where rules were broken, staff abused and riotous parties went on long into the night.
Ms Gray lists in meticulous detail how red wine was splattered against walls, senior officials boasted about getting away with illegal gatherings and cleaners were left to clear up vomit.
It is impossible not to read her report and not be appalled. But the shock will be felt even keener by those who loved ones during the pandemic.
While people were unable to sing in church, the occupants of No10 were holding karaoke evenings. When grieving relatives were barred from funerals, Mr Johnson was attending multiple leaving dos.
As Ms Gray makes clear in her report what happened can be traced directly to the failure of leadership at the top.
The centre of power became a cesspit of boorishness, arrogance and entitlement because those employed in No10 took their lead from the Prime Minister.
The rudeness shown to cleaners and security staff was not a by-product of his approach to the job but a direct consequence of it.
The PM’s response to the Gray report was insincere, inadequate and insulting. If he was truly remorseful he would have resigned.
His claim that he was doing the decent thing by attending a leaving party showed a complete lack of understanding for those who were unable to say farewell to a loved one.
His call for the country to move on from partygate showed a complete contempt for those still mourning a life lost to Covid.
There is no defence for the PM’s conduct. He has brought shame on our highest elected office, undermined trust and shown disdain for the rules he expected others to follow.
Tory MPs could stop the rot by ousting him. By failing to do so they are colluding in the corruption of values this country used to prize.
