In the arcane language of Parliament every MP is an “honourable” member.
Those appointed to Her Majesty’s Privy Council get an extra bit of flummery and are referred to as “the Right Honourable Member”.
Most Brits today resent this anachronistic tradition, believing that our lawmakers should act like members of the 21st century rather than the 18th.
And many believe the word “honourable” has been debased by dodgy, self-serving politicians.
“Honest and fair, deserving praise and respect” is the Cambridge dictionary definition. A word personified in Sir David Amess MP.
The veteran Tory served the people of Basildon from 1983 to 1997 and his Southend West constituency for 24 years.
And in October 2021 the loving husband and dad-of-five died in the very act of democratic service, welcoming “a constituent” to his weekly surgery with a friendly smile, anxious to sort out his problems.
Ali Harbi Ali, 26, turned out to be an Islamic State fanatic who stabbed Sir David, 69, to death in a sickening terror attack. And this week as the killer was jailed for life MPs of all parties paid tribute to a truly honourable man. But I couldn’t help wondering how Sir David’s family must have felt when the Prime Minister vowed “to continue his legacy”.
Because if any politician debases the word “honourable” it is the Right Honourable Boris Johnson MP.
A lawmaker turned lawbreaker who didn’t give a stuff about law-abiding citizens separated from dying loved ones as he enjoyed lockdown-busting parties at No 10.
A Conservative leader who has abandoned his party’s principles of duty and accountability.
A Prime Minister who has broken all political convention by refusing to resign for misleading the Commons.
And yet he still thinks he can “set the record straight” with MPs when they return to Parliament after Easter.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has already backed Boris, saying that the PM is “mortified” by his £50 partygate fine.
But he didn’t realise he was breaking the law so remains “an honourable man”.
And Home Secretary Priti Patel took a break from planning her Rwandan refugee dump to insist that Boris had made a fulsome apology “and should be respected for that”.
Enough of this shameful, sycophantic flummery.
Boris Johnson is never going to fall on his sword and his pathetic “mea culpa” cannot save his skin.
Lifelong Tory voters are already turning against him for betraying public trust and they will boot him out at the next election.
But if Conservative MPs are truly honourable members they must force a no- confidence vote and get rid of him themselves.
Because Boris Johnson is the very definition of dishonourable.
Dishonest and immoral, deserving of censure and disdain.
