I honestly don't think Starmer is a buffoon.
And he's not in the same (terrible) class as Johnson.
I think most politicians are not in the same (awful) class as Johnson.
That is why I posted the link to Dominic Grieve. What Grieve is saying is incredibly important.
He says that Johnson traduces the role of Prime Minister and makes a travesty of government - and diminishes trust and respect.
This is absolutely my view.
I think Johnson is a corrosive toxin. He is profoundly damaging.
Most politicians - of all parties - are not like Johnson.
He is profoundly damaging.
I find it worrying when anyone would lump Starmer in with Johnson.
They are not alike.
Frankly, many Conservatives are nothing like Johnson.
I agree wholeheartedly with Grieve on this - he's a damaging, damaging class apart. He should never, ever have been allowed to become PM.
Anyway, if that sounds like, 'But the Tories ...', I'm sorry.
I don't mean, 'But the Tories ...'
I mean, 'Johnson is something quite damaging and different. It's a tragedy he became PM.'
Please don't judge all politicians by his standard. Many politicians, from all Parties, are radically different to Johnson.
And most are not 'buffoons'. They are often very qualified people. Many of whom are committed, dedicated and have acquired high levels in the fields they worked in before entering politics.
Which many of them entered because of a notion of public service.
That's true across the House.
And I find it bizarre that there is so very little respect for politicians.
It's a job that affects lives.
If you hold those people in so little regard, then enter politics yourself. Act to effect better.
I suspect contact with politicians and politics might change your perspective.
I find this cynicism, this willingness to trivialise, terribly, horribly corrosive.
I do feel Johnson has contributed to this - and I despair.
But politics is just far, far too important to allow judgment to evaporate in an all-encompassing cynicism. Or to mask a fundamental laziness as regards political knowledge and engagement behind a mask of ridicule.
It's damaging. And at its very worst, it ends with inviting violence against our MPs.
We have to change that culture. And that begins with very firmly distinguishing between those who behave with probity and seriousness when in office and those who don't - and saving our deepest opprobrium for those that don't act with the standards we deserve to see followed.