Now he can make loadsamoney

The news that Boris Johnson is taking the Chiltern Hundreds (a way of resigning from parliament) is a bit astonishing, but anticipates the outcome of the House of Commons Standards Committee inquiry into his baleful behaviour re: ‘Partygate.’ Does it signal the end of his political career? Does it mean the gravy train of his after dinner speaking career is about to move into overdrive? Of course his resignation means the Standards Committee no longer has a serving MP to ‘convict’ so has to end its inquiry without result, even if Johnson’s departure from the House of Commons was always desirable. But I’m sure his popularity with Tory party members will last, and that—dread the thought—could lead to his eventual return. His political obituary hasn’t been written yet. Still, one episode in Britain’s decline is over for now. I’m particularly grateful, it has to be said that he didn’t have to use the other method of resigning, which is called assuming the Manor of Northstead. Northstead is in Scarborough. We wouldn’t want him here would we? (Rumour has it, not for the first time, that our current Tory MP is not standing at the next general election).