Boris Johnson is gone for good, but his brand of empty populism is still very much alive

‘The official judgment on Boris Johnson’s record will be devastating.’ Johnson gives evidence to the Covid inquiry in London on Wednesday. Photograph: UK Covid-19 Inquiry/AP

In the wake of this week’s Covid interrogation, any residual debate about Boris Johnson’s career in politics is settled. He will never come back.

Hugo Keith KC, counsel to the Covid inquiry, exposed the many failures of the former British prime minister with careful questioning. During the pandemic, Johnson was negligent, lazy and systematically misled the public, while repeatedly boasting about imaginary achievements. Above all, he failed to treat the pandemic seriously, missing the first five Cobra meetings. The official judgment on his record will be devastating.