To outsiders, British politics can seem like a strange thing. For the last two months, the whole political class has been waiting with bated breath for a report by an obscure civil servant looking into the social lives of Downing Street staff.

Yesterday, they got their wish. Although Sue GrayA senior civil servant who entered the public eye for the first time when she was tasked with investigating lockdown breaches in government. In 2024, she was briefly Keir Starmer's chief of staff.'s report on "PartygateNickname given to the controversy over a series of illegal gatherings hosted in 10 Downing Street, Johnson's office and home, during the Covid-19 lockdown." has been cut at the request of the police, it still contains plenty of damning detail. She accuses the government of falling short of the standards expected of them and the public and even mentions "failures of leadership and judgment" by those in the prime minister's office.

Perhaps most damagingly for Boris Johnson, the report suggests that he might have misled Parliament - a serious breach of the Ministerial CodeA code of conduct that applies to ministers. They are supposed to resign if they break it, but they cannot be forced to do so, and it is administered by the prime minister themself..

For many, it has caused a new wave of consternation about the hypocrisy of politicians. But for others, hypocrisy is just part of political life. 

Political scientist David RuncimanA professor of politics at Cambridge University and prominent public intellectual. argues that every government in history has been based on hypocrisy. This is because politics is all about compromise. It relies on shady deals that might force a politician to violate the principles they genuinely believe in. Take out this hypocrisy and there can be no consensus between political groups, and no progress towards improving people's lives.

He points out that sincerity, in contrast, can do a lot of damage. He cites Tony Blair, who defended his good intentions in invading Iraq and Afghanistan even as those countries collapsed into chaos.

Besides, he suggests, it is inevitable that power corrupts. If people can get away with not following the rules, then they will: we just have to accept that it will happen.

And it seems the British public might agree. After all, no one was under any illusions about Boris Johnson when he won his resounding election victory in 019At the general election in 2019 the Conservatives won their biggest majority since 1987..

Just a few months earlier he had been accused of lying to the Queen over the advice he gave her on proroguing Parliament. In 2012 he apologised for repeating a lie about drunken fans causing the 1989 Hillsborough disasterA fatal crush during a football match in Sheffield, England in 1989. It killed 97 people. . 

In 2004 he was fired as party vice-chairman and shadow arts minister after lying about having an affair with a columnist. And in the late 1980s, he was sacked by the Times for allegedly inventing a quote from his godfather, historian Colin LucasA historian and former vice-chancellor of Oxford University..

All this was known when Johnson became prime minister. Yet a huge majority still voted for him. 

Some think people prefer slippery politicians. They often come across as more fun and personable characters, whereas honest politicians can seem pious.

But others think this is an irresponsible approach. If we just let politicians do whatever they like, the public will become disillusioned with the laws and norms that govern modern life.

This can be a matter of life and death. If people had known about the lockdown parties in Downing Street, it might have made them less likely to obey the rules.

Yes: Politicians get elected by championing certain ideals, but when they get into power they can only implement their policies by compromising with people of other views. Hypocrisy is baked into politics.

No: If politicians are hypocritical, people lose faith in the political process, and democracy suffers. We should expect the very highest standards of personal integrity and honesty.

Or... Politicians will probably always lie and bend rules. For as long as this helps get stuff done, we should tolerate it, but we should also crack down hard on those who go too far.

Sue Gray - A senior civil servant who entered the public eye for the first time when she was tasked with investigating lockdown breaches in government. In 2024, she was briefly Keir Starmer's chief of staff.

Partygate - Nickname given to the controversy over a series of illegal gatherings hosted in 10 Downing Street, Johnson's office and home, during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Ministerial Code - A code of conduct that applies to ministers. They are supposed to resign if they break it, but they cannot be forced to do so, and it is administered by the prime minister themself.

David Runciman - A professor of politics at Cambridge University and prominent public intellectual.

2019 - At the general election in 2019 the Conservatives won their biggest majority since 1987.

Hillsborough disaster - A fatal crush during a football match in Sheffield, England in 1989. It killed 97 people. 

Colin Lucas - A historian and former vice-chancellor of Oxford University.