Former prime minister Boris Johnson

THE chief defect of Boris J
Was having everything his own way,
And wanting to be number one,
Which spoiled all the Commons’ fun.
When he said, “Get Brexit done”
‘Tis true he misled everyone.
No one knew just what it meant
For immigrants and money spent.
Then Covid came, oh what a shame!
Boris thought it just a game
And went to parties just the same.

– Apologies to Hilaire Belloc, and WS Brownlie in EO Parrott’s How to Become Ridiculously Well-read in One Evening.

SARAH DAWES