For Boris Johnson, the party really may be over this time

PERHAPS in the future, groups of schoolchildren visiting the UK Houses of Parliament will pause before the statue of a former prime minister. As they study his face, the unruly hair finally tamed in bronze, the teacher will explain that Boris Johnson was a leader of indisputable historic significance brought down by a "bring your own bottle" party.

As is so often with leaders, the prime minister's undoing may be the features that once made him attractive to voters, in this case his irreverence and carelessness. With the big Brexit battles won, allies are less tolerant of his weaknesses. A run of unforced errors culminating in the revelation he broke his own Covid laws by permitting, or at least attending, a party in the Downing Street garden now places him at serious risk.

He is not ready to give up the fight. Major personnel changes in Downing Street are likely. He used Prime Minister's Questions to deliver another of those humbling apologies he is normally loath to offer. The sullen silence of his own MPs suggested little true belief that his partial admissions of fault were adequate, especially after the days of obfuscation, but also a grudging acceptance that he has bought himself some time.