IT was former Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson who famously stated that a week is a long time in politics. Last week the current Prime Minister was publicly denounced and described as unfit for his post by his previous adviser, Dominic Cummings; was found not guilty of breaking the Ministerial Code by the new adviser for ministerial standards; and met with the controversial Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban.

Boris Johnson’s reputation as the Teflon Prime Minister continues to grow apace as he cruises through criticisms and accusations that would have led to resignations and public outrage in previous administrations. The gravity of Mr Cummings’s testimony, though damaging to Mr Johnson on first view, has been diminished as the right-wing press rallied around the Prime Minister to counter-attack his former adviser.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson deemed 'unwise' over flat refurb but cleared of misconduct

Lord Geidt, the new adviser on ministerial standards, unsurprisingly found that the man who appointed him was innocent over the funding dispute for the revamping of 11 Downing Street and that he had not broken the Ministerial Code. Despite Mr Johnson claiming that he knew nothing of the funding in this instance, it would be inconceivable to anyone with any level of impartiality that this could be the case. Nevertheless the Prime Minister emerges from this contentious issue scot-free and apparently untouchable and ready to meet with the Hungarian Prime Minister.

That Johnson should welcome to Downing Street Mr Orban, a man who courts Putin’s support, short-circuits democracy if it becomes challenging and is well known for his overt racism and homophobia, tells us that he is desperate for bi- lateral trade partners in our post- Brexit dystopia and that he genuinely does not care about public opinion, secure in the knowledge that his personal stock in England has never been higher.

This is a man who, like Viktor Orban, scorns democratic norms and practices and treats any individual or group who disapprove of him and his party with utter contempt and ridicule. He has learned a great deal from former President Trump about retaining a populist base whilst pursuing autocratic policies and methodologies.

Beneath the buffoon lies a ruthless and determined narcissist who will leave political carnage in his wake. If last week advises us of anything it is that the battle for the United Kingdom may be grubby and deceitful and that the Scottish Government must prepare for the unethical struggle that inevitably now lies before us.

Owen Kelly
Stirling

IT just gets better and better, the amusement value of Westminster Tories. It is like listening to a comic and his straight man. In fact we used to have a whole series of comedy half-hour shows. One in particular I used to enjoy was Hancock’s Half Hour, starring Tony. Now in the House of Comedy it stars Matt, in Hancock’s Half Truths.

Well, why should he be any different from many of our so-called leaders who don’t like the light of day shone on the dark corners of their dealings? The way he waffles on about “when he wakens up each morning, what he must do to protect lives”. That’s an easy one: convince Boris to resign and call a General Election. That's a sure-fire way to stop the bodies piling up. It would also allow someone who can do the job efficiently and with feeling to guide us to an end of this terrible virus.

The Boris Johnson team has struggled since day one. They are too easily side-tracked by friends and fellow investors, not to mention family loyalties, to concentrate on the day job. Let’s give somebody else a chance to save the health of the nations.

Ian Rankine
Milngavie