FURTHER scandals befell Westminster last week and it’s damaging to democracy, not just the institution.

One MP resigned due to watching pornography and another was charged with serious sexual crimes.

But the rot sets in from the top. The cavalier attitude that the Prime Minister has for probity sets the tone. There’s a crisis in Northern Ireland brought about by Boris Johnson lying about his Brexit deal and now seeking to revoke an international treaty that he signed.

Compounding that has been his behaviour in the whole Partygate saga. Numerous times he gave both public and parliamentary assurances no rules had been broken. That was manifestly untrue. He has already been fined for one incident which should have brought forth his resignation. Now he has avoided additional penalties, which only raises questions about the nature of the police investigation.

How he, his wife and even his most senior civil servant could avoid being penalised when junior staff were being issued with fixed penalties is staggering. It was in his home, with senior staff present and responsible for organising most of it.

The danger for our society is that the PM’s behaviour and actions are undermining institutions meant to provide checks and balances. The rights of courts to hold government to account are being restricted. The independence of the police and civil service is being tainted, if not more severely damaged. Yet there’s neither shame nor contrition from a man who’s a total charlatan. He needs to go.

Locally, the issue has been trains, or rather the lack thereof. The temporary timetable is reminiscent of the Beeching cull generations ago that wiped out services and isolated communities. The extent of the cutbacks is staggering.

The danger is that what’s temporary becomes the norm. That’s why this needs resolved fast. The Scottish Government must intervene – they’re responsible for ScotRail and the buck stops with them.