The Tories are tired of Boris’s ceaseless scandals

The political world splits in two whenever fresh evidence emerges that Boris Johnson does not think that life’s rules and norms apply to him. One faction, the majority, humourlessly harrumphs about standards and brands him unfit for high office. Another tries to excuse the latest infraction. It’s a grey area. It’s not a serious matter. There’s a vendetta against him.

Today we saw the latest case of Johnson finding it churlish to expect him to stick to the ‘network of obligation that binds everyone’ (a phrase that should be copyright of his Eton classics teacher, Martin Hammond). According to the Sunday Times, the BBC chairman and former Goldman Sachs banker Richard Sharp helped arrange a loan of £800,000 for Mr Johnson just weeks before Johnson recommended him for the plum broadcasting post. Mr Sharp says there was no conflict of interest. He had ‘simply connected’ people. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, a long-time friend and supporter of Johnson, said on television this morning that Sharp is ‘incredibly accomplished’ and that there is ‘no doubt he was appointed on merit’.