Boris Johnson is gone, but his toxic Brexit myths will go on poisoning UK politics | Rafael Behr

A systemic sickness produced the hallucination of merit in the former prime minister, then disgorged him. Understanding those events will be critical

There is no crisis at Westminster so serious that it cannot be made to look trivial by the inclusion of Boris Johnson. And there is no scandal involving Johnson that cannot be explained, partially or wholly, by his lies. Those are axioms of post-Brexit politics.

The House of Commons committee of privileges is due to publish a report concluding that a former prime minister turned his back on truth and put himself in contempt of parliament. The gravity of the offence invites a serious discussion about the safeguards in British democracy. Or it should.

Rafael Behr is a Guardian columnist