I find the quotes in the accompanying article slightly terrifying because they assume that the Prime Minister – he is, after all, called PRIME Minister – does not accept responsibility for the actions of his own government and is trying to shovel off responsibility on the poor hapless, former Head of the Civil Service who has already been fired – sorry has agreed to part company – for his pains.

But it is all so recent. We all remember the bumbling incompetence, the prevarication, and the Cheltenham Races, when the rest of us were desperately trying to avoid infection long before lockdown was finally and belatedly declared. Did the Prime Minister not learn from his expensive education that the captain of the ship is responsible if it runs aground and looks even more treacherous, as well as ridiculous, if he tries to evade responsibility ?

https://www.ft.com/content/aa53173b-eb39-4055-b112-0001c1f6de1b?segmentID=0052c4bc-c54e-19c6-b165-8800c56b8254