So this is how it all ended.

Boris Johnson, the man who rode to victory on a thumping 80-seat majority in 2019, leaves Parliament in disgrace just three-and-a-half years later, with MPs - many on his own side - rubber stamping a report that officially branded him as a liar.

If Johnson had entered Downing Street thanks to an overwhelming victory, his humiliating defeat in the Commons last night was even more thunderous. 354 MPs backed the Privileges Committee's findings that the former Prime Minister had misled the Commons over lockdown parties in Downing Street - just seven members voted against.

Even for a man of Boris Johnson's glaring character flaws, his fall from grace has been remarkable. He could now have been just over two thirds of the way through his first term in office, having had the Commons numbers to drive his agenda forward and be in a position to plot a second term at the top.

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Instead he is no longer the Prime Minister and no longer a Member of Parliament, having been forced to resign from both positions in disgrace.

Many of us warned that Johnson's premiership would come to a chaotic end, but too many people could not - or would not - see behind the bluster and the Brexit boosterism to see a man that was never ever fit for such high office.

One of those people was Rishi Sunak. However bitter relations get between the current Prime Minister and his former boss, it should never be forgotten that Sunak wholeheartedly backed and endorsed Johnson until that stance no longer worked for his own desires, ambitions and status.

For Rishi Sunak, that large, mop-haired chicken is now firmly coming home to roost. Ever since he was ousted from Downing Street, Johnson has been a painful thorn in the side of the Prime Minister but last night was the moment he inadvertently struck the killer blow to the current incumbent of Number 10.

Johnson's shameful behaviour over party-gate and the Privileges Committee report meant that Sunak faced a choice. He could either attempt to abide by the promises he gave as he assumed the highest office in the land, in which he vowed to lead with integrity and accountability - or he could hide away in the hope of avoiding another painful row with his former ally.

Sunak's decision to take the easier path, to cower away from an important House of Commons vote and to fail to support the diligent work of a committee of his (mainly Conservative) colleagues speaks volumes about the type of leader he really is. This was far from a display of integrity and accountability but a shameful act of cowardice.

The fact that a host of his own cabinet members did the right thing and turned up to support the Privileges Report served only to emphasise the feeble decision that was taken by their leader.

As Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak's myriad problems are far more profound than what happened in the House of Commons last night. The nation's economic situation is growing increasingly bleak by the day, the health service is on its knees and Labour's polling lead seems more robust than ever.

But his actions are important and symbolic. This was a man who was desperate to portray himself as decisive, strong and accountable after the disastrous and chaotic premierships of his two predecessors. Now he looks irrecoverably weak and it is hard to see him ever coming back from that.

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