ALEXANDER Boris de Pfeffel Johnson’s autobiography Unleashed invites comparisons between the disgraced former prime minister and George IV, also famously a notorious fantasist.

Unleashed’s poorly written catalogue of self-serving falsehoods, deluded wish fulfilment, indiscretion, exaggeration and sheer bunkum confirm (if needed) our worst fears regarding his suitability for high office. Or, in fact, any office.

As Rory Stewart put it: “Johnson is … the most accomplished liar in public life — perhaps the best liar ever to serve as prime minister. He is equally adept at the ironic jest, the fib and the grand lie; the weasel word and the half-truth; the hyperbolic lie, the obvious lie, and the bullshit lie — which may inadvertently be true. I think he’s one of the most terrible human beings imaginable. He’s a terrible human being as well as a terrible prime minister.”