Can Boris Johnson come back from this? That question has been asked so many times throughout his career, and the answer has always turned out to be “yes”. He has survived crises that would drive most people out of public life, and even turned many of them to his advantage.

He may well view today’s Covid Inquiry report , which found “inexcusable” delays in the UK’s response to the virus and personal leadership failures from the former prime minister himself, as just the latest blip.

There should be no doubt though: this isn’t the latest blip, but an official verdict on his lack of seriousness. It should mark the point at which any ambitions that Johnson holds of a return to political life are shown up as being delusions rather than realistic.

He presided over a “toxic and sexist work

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