Oh, what a night...
'Twas a few nights before Christmas. All through the house, not a creature was stirring – apart from some of the country's political elite who were downing a dram of the Famous Grouse.
Yes, that's right, whilst the rest of us were locked up in our homes and approaching the end of a dreadful 2020, banned from mixing with other households and attending Christmas gatherings, some of our leaders (who should have known better) and their key aides were merrily sipping whisky and wine, eating cheese and eyeing up the mistletoe.
If we can believe what we hear, they enjoyed their Yuletide knees-up knowing they were going to ban us from seeing our loved ones within 24 hours of the revelry ending; and the fact this happened a year ago doesn't matter a jot.
SCENE OF THE 'CRIME': Downing Street, the Prime Minister's HQ, is where the knees-up was held.
Then, as the leaked video of former government media adviser, Allegra Stratton, shows, some of the unwise proceeded to have a good laugh and joke. If the video evidence we have all seen is credible, they certainly weren't taking the matter as seriously as we were.
Fast forward 12 months, and now the details of that reckless evening are becoming known, none of us find this state of affairs funny because, and here is the real punchline, this is one of the most catastrophic leadership failings we have seen in recent times.
Rightly so, we were told social distancing was key to taming the killer virus. So that's what we did. Some of us had to say goodbye to a dying relative over an iPad; new dad's lost valuable bonding time with their babies; we were banned from attending funerals, forced to cancel our weddings – while all of us lost precious time with our family and friends. Heck, I had to wait anxiously by the phone to hear if my brother was going to survive his Meningitis as I wasn't allowed to visit him in the hospital.
PARTY ANIMAL: We have now learned former Minister, Gavin Williamson, did attend a festive bash.
The cost was huge, but we were willing to bear it for the greater good. That was until they made a mockery of our sacrifice.
Wedding party? No, no, no. Downing Street Christmas party? Ho, ho, ho!
So, I will repeat what I said. This is one of the most catastrophic leadership failings of recent times. Why? Because we need to be able to trust our government when it tells us what steps we need to take to overcome our worst crisis since World War Two. And this is particularly true if we are asked to make big sacrifices.
QUICK RESIGNATION: Shortly after the matter became knowledge, Allegra Stratton quit her job.
Sadly, as a new variant starts to take a grip, people will be left wondering whether their leaders are looking out for them or just themselves. Others may ignore the key recommendations, wondering why they should give up so much when people involved in the business of government couldn't forgo something so little.
The cost of that party was not just a sore head in the morning, it was the loss of our trust at a critical moment in our battle to overcome this pandemic.
Looking forward, where can we get our hope from now?
Regular readers of this website and Sorted magazine will know we have a deep Christian faith, and I can tell you that Jesus, the reason for this Christmas season, is the ultimate model of leadership. He served others, rather than requiring others to serve him.
CODSWALLOP, PIFFLE AND BALDERDASH: The PM seems unwilling to talk coherently about the party.
There are many wonderful men and women in government, business, public service and the NHS who are doing the same thing. They understand that leadership doesn't give them the freedom and power to do whatever they like. They know that their position means that their rights decrease and their responsibilities increase. They recognise that they are there to give, not to take.
I know we will overcome this pandemic. But I also know we would achieve this so much faster with more 'givers' at the top table of government.
Chris Kerr is a legal industry executive and a regular Sorted columnist.