Battle-Scarred Boris Must Prove He's Still Up For It

When a country is in a bad mood there is a high chance its prime minister will be on the receiving end of serious flak – whether he deserves it or not.

- Patrick O'Flynn

And which of us is not feeling scratchy about the limitations placed on our liberties and the giant economic costs incurred in the fight against this wretched coronavirus?

So it is no wonder that when Boris Johnson failed to properly explain his own administration’s new measures for the North-east on Tuesday, some serious barracking ensued.

But equally, logic tells us that this huge medical emergency which descended on Britain like a bolt from the blue, was always going to be a horrendous problem for whoever was sitting in the Downing Street hot seat.

SO WHILE we can – and do – let off steam by bemoaning the PM when he misses a step, commentators would be foolish to assume that this amounts to a permanent rejection of him.

The main political facts of life are fixed: Mr Johnson won a big, five-year majority and mandate from us in December.

His administration is locked in a long negotiation with the EU about our future relationship and an even longer battle against Covid.