Boris Johnson is not above law; he should remember that in virus fight – The Yorkshire Post says

A desire for maximum public compliance over social distancing, and lockdowns, is made harder by the Government’s actions that make a mockery of Mr Johnson’s contention that “we expect everybody in this country to obey the law”.

It’s a growing charge sheet – the unlawful prorogation of Parliament; the PM’s chief aide Dominic Cummings defying lockdown rules and now an intent to breach international law over Northern Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement in the latest Brexit battle.

It’s a growing charge sheet – the unlawful prorogation of Parliament; the PM’s chief aide Dominic Cummings defying lockdown rules and now an intent to breach international law over Northern Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement. As Theresa May quite rightly pointed out, this is about trust.

Not just in the moment over Brexit and Northern Ireland but as Britain goes about establishing its Sovereign reputation from scratch as Sir Jonathan Jones, the civil servant in charge of the Government’s legal department, quit.

Just the latest public servant who finds working with this administration to be incompatible with their professional reputation, the cumulation of these events – coupled with Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s rebuke of Mr Hancock for bypassing Parliament over the latest lockdown announcement – points to a corrosive culture of contempt in Downing Street which reflects poorly on its leadership and UK. It should not be above the law.

It’s also indicative of the state of politics that Sir Keir Starmer, a noted lawyer and former Director of Public Prosecutions, felt unable to raise the latest Brexit developments at PMQs while Ian Blackford, the SNP’s Westminster leader, resorted to unparliamentary language. At the moment, political leaders find themselves guilty of “double standards” just when they’re duty-bound to lead by example on Covid and so much 
more.

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today.

Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers.

So, please - if you can - pay for our work. Just £5 per month is the starting point. If you think that which we are trying to achieve is worth more, you can pay us what you think we are worth. By doing so, you will be investing in something that is becoming increasingly rare. Independent journalism that cares less about right and left and more about right and wrong. Journalism you can trust.

Thank you

James Mitchinson