Not one. Not two. Not three. Not four. But five. Five lies. Two weeks ago the Prime Minister stood up in the House of Commons and responded to a series of questions on the China spying scandal.
What was that? The Labour party on 11 per cent? In Caerphilly? When you look at the scale of the Government's humiliation in this week's by-election, you rub your eyes in disbelief.
There are many things I will happily pin on Boris Johnson. Brexit for one; a cheapening of public discourse for another. We are still living with the consequences of his time as prime minister.