Boris Johnson’s failure to suspend Chris Pincher the moment allegations emerged that his deputy chief whip had drunkenly groped two men is just the PM’s latest bad judgement call in a long line of them.
It was blindingly obvious that a resignation and an apology were not enough when claims of sexual misconduct were the issue.
But Mr Johnson consistently shows himself blind to the obvious.
It was obvious during Covid that patients should not have been discharged from hospital into care homes without testing.
That cost at least 20,000 lives.
It was obvious that children needed free school meals to continue through the holidays during the pandemic.
The inevitable U-turn put a question mark over Mr Johnson’s political ability.
It was obvious that trying to get sleazy Tory buddy Owen Paterson off a mere 30-day suspension was defending the indefensible.
That blunder instead cost Mr Paterson his entire career.
It was obvious that keeping bullying Priti Patel in office after she had been found to break the ministerial code showed contempt for the rules.
That cost both of them their credibility.
But rule-breaking is in Mr Johnson’s DNA, as he showed by allowing illegal lockdown parties to continue in No10.
That could cost Mr Johnson the premiership if his MPs can just find a way to get their way.
Of course the PM cannot be held responsible for Mr Pincher getting legless.
But it is Mr Johnson’s duty as our national leader to ensure he does not just walk away when he sobers up.
That is why the removal of the whip and a proper inquiry were always necessary.
And why it was right of Mr Pincher yesterday to say he would co-operate fully with it.
What a pity there is not another inquiry into why the PM is incapable of learning from his mistakes.
Because unless he does, he will just go on making more of them.
