First and foremost, responsibility for the UK's appalling death rate lies with the government's insistence on taking action at the only last possible minute, when we're staring disaster in the face.

But secondly we should ask questions of a media culture which, bar notable exceptions at Newsnight, The Sunday Times, and Good Morning Britain, has generally looked at our crop of venal and incompetent politicians as a bunch of unfortunate souls who really are trying their best.

From 'hipster analysis' to 'herd immunity will be vital' to 'the science has changed', there has been an unforgivable level of credulity amongst those who should be committed to asking nothing but the toughest questions of the government, and stress-testing their every decision.

There are some journalists - most of whom very obviously don't share my politics in any other regard! - who have excelled themselves in this pandemic through their diligence and attention to detail, and their work has been an absolute lifeline. But not enough of them, I'm afraid.