Boris Johnson must not be allowed to undermine our belief in democracy

Editorial: The former prime minister seeks revenge, and his conspiracy theories are dangerous

Johnson risks undermining people’s confidence in our parliamentary democracy (AP)

Boris Johnson’s selfish destructiveness goes beyond his personal campaign against his imagined enemies to threaten our parliamentary democracy. Calling the privileges committee a “kangaroo court” is close to an act of treachery: it is an attempt to undermine the constitution.

The former prime minister has resigned from the House of Commons, issuing a statement of rare bitterness and rage. And he has taken two of his closest allies with him, Nadine Dorries and Nigel Adams, causing three by-elections that will be embarrassing for Rishi Sunak.

Labour is expected to win Mr Johnson’s former constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip, whereas the Liberal Democrats are poised to repeat recent giant-killer victories, coming from third place to defeat the Conservatives in their safe seats of Mid Bedfordshire and Selby and Ainsty.