Boris Johnson’s remarkable victory over Labour is also a victory for populism over policy. He has secured the mandate he wanted for his crude, misleading but effective slogan – to “get Brexit done” by leaving the EU on 31 January.

Mr Johnson’s presidential campaign copied the man he was desperate to keep out of the election, Donald Trump. He got the Brexit election he wanted, and persuaded enough working class people to buy his brand of economic populism. “Unleash Britain’s potential,” the second leg of Mr Johnson’s slogan, echoed “make America great again”.

The US president won over blue-collar America in 2016, offering hope to the rustbelt areas left behind by globalisation. Mr Johnson has matched that by demolishing Labour’s “red wall” of seats stretching from North Wales to the northeast, with a huge expected Conservative majority of around 80 seats, the biggest since the Margaret Thatcher era.

Mr Johnson will feel vindicated, that the end result justified the means. But this was the dirtiest, most mendacious of the 10 general elections have I have covered since I moved to the Westminster village in 1982, the last six for The Independent.

The Tory campaign was built on a false premise as well as a false promise. Mr Johnson claimed he did not want this contest. Not true: from the day he moved into Downing Street in July, his close aides talked about “the election”; the only debate was when it would take place. He decided that a contest before Brexit happened would most enhance his prospects. Then he constructed his misleading platform: parliament had blocked Brexit, and the will of the people in 2016. It was pure Trump: the people versus the establishment, an improbable strategy for an Eton-educated former member of Oxford University’s Bullingdon Club.

Election night 2019: In Pictures Show all 36 1 /36 Election night 2019: In Pictures Election night 2019: In Pictures First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, takes a selfie with some her newly elected MP's at the Glasgow count Getty Election night 2019: In Pictures Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures after speaking AP Election night 2019: In Pictures A police officer breaks up a fight while Hayes and Harlington MP John McDonnell speaks Getty Images Election night 2019: In Pictures Liberal Democrat candidate Luciana Berger reacts as she loses the Finchley & Golders Green constituency in north London PA Election night 2019: In Pictures DUP MP for Upper Bann Carla Lockhart with her son Charlie at Meadowbank Sports Arena as counting begins PA Election night 2019: In Pictures Labour's John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor speaks after winning his constituency seat following the count declaration at Brunel University in Uxbridge, London AP Election night 2019: In Pictures Liberal Democrats candidate for Edinburgh West, Christine Jardine retains her seat at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh PA Election night 2019: In Pictures Theresa Villers after she was re-elected as MP for Chipping Barnet at Allainz Park, London in the 2019 General Election. PA Photo. Picture date: Friday December 13, 2019. See PA story POLITICS Election. Photo credit should read: Jacob King/PA Wire Jacob King PA Election night 2019: In Pictures Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon takes a photo with party members at the SEC Centre in Glasgow after the declaration in her constituency in the 2019 general election, Friday Dec. 13, 2019. An exit poll in Britain's election projects that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party likely will win a majority of seats in Parliament. That outcome would allow Johnson to fulfil his plan to take the U.K. out of the European Union next month. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell) Scott Heppell AP Election night 2019: In Pictures The DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly reacts to losing the Belfast South seat at the Titanic exhibition centre, Belfast, for the 2019 General Election. PA Photo. Picture date: Friday December 13, 2019. See PA story POLITICS Election. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire Liam McBurney PA Election night 2019: In Pictures TOPSHOT - Carrie Symonds, partner of Britain's Prime Minister and Conservative leader Boris Johnson, holds their dog, a Jack Russell-cross named Dilyn, as she arrives at the count centre in Uxbridge, west London, on December 13, 2019 while votes were counted as part of the UK general election. - Prime Minister Boris Johnson's ruling party appeared on course for a sweeping victory in Thursday's snap election, an exit poll showed, paving the way for Britain to leave the EU next month after years of political deadlock. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) OLI SCARFF AFP via Getty Images Election night 2019: In Pictures TOPSHOT - Party activists keep an eye on proceedings as ballot papers are sorted at the count centre in Bishopbriggs, north of Glasgow on December 12, 2019. - Prime Minister Boris Johnson was on course for a decisive majority, exit polls indicated after voting closed in Britain's general election on Thursday, paving the way for Brexit. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) PAUL ELLIS AFP via Getty Images Election night 2019: In Pictures DUP leader Arlene Foster watches on as Sinn Fein candidate John Finucane is declared the winner of the north Belfast seat over DUP candidate Nigel Dodds in the Belfast count centre at the Titanic Exhibition centre on December 13, 2019 in Belfast, United Kingdom. The current Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the first UK winter election for nearly a century in an attempt to gain a working majority to break the parliamentary deadlock over Brexit. The election results from across the country are being counted and an overall result is expected in the early hours of Friday morning. Getty Images Election night 2019: In Pictures Ballots in a tray labelled Jo Swinson, Liberal Democrats candidate for East Dunbartonshire, are seen at a counting centre for Britain's general election in Bishopbriggs, Britain REUTERS Election night 2019: In Pictures Sinn Fein's John Finucane, the winning candidate in the Belfast North seat, with Party Vice President Michelle O'Neill and President Mary Lou McDonald, celebrates at the count centre, Titanic Quarter, Belfast, Northern Ireland REUTERS Election night 2019: In Pictures Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon smiles as she arrives at the SEC Centre in Glasgow for the declaration in her constituency in the 2019 general election, Friday Dec. 13, 2019. An exit poll in Britain's election projects that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party likely will win a majority of seats in Parliament. That outcome would allow Johnson to fulfil his plan to take the U.K. out of the European Union next month. AP Election night 2019: In Pictures Conservative Party MP Dominic Raab being congratulated by Baron Badger after being re-elected to serve the constituency of Esher and Walton at Sandown Park Racecourse in Surrey at the 2019 General Election. PA Election night 2019: In Pictures Conservative Party parliamentary candidate Jacob Rees-Mogg makes his way to the stage at the Sports Training Village, University of Bath, on December 13, 2019 in Bath, England. The current Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the first UK winter election for nearly a century in an attempt to gain a working majority to break the parliamentary deadlock over Brexit. The election results from across the country are being counted overnight and an overall result is expected in the early hours of Friday morning. Getty Images Election night 2019: In Pictures Britain's Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson speaks on stage after losing her seat at the East Dunbartonshire count centre in Bishopbriggs, north of Glasgow, on December 13, 2019 after votes were counted as part of the UK general election. AFP via Getty Images Election night 2019: In Pictures Bobby Smith, a political and fathers' rights activist and founder and leader of the 'Give Me Back Elmo' party, left, and Independent candidate Count Binface stand either side of Britain's Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Boris Johnson wait for the Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency count declaration at Brunel University in Uxbridge, London, Friday AP Election night 2019: In Pictures Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, with wife Laura Alvarez, talks to workers as he arrives for the count at Sobell Leisure Centre for the Islington North and South constituencies for the 2019 General Election. PA Election night 2019: In Pictures Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party, visits the vote count in his Islington North constituency on December 12, 2019 in London, England. Corbyn, who has held the Islington North seat since 1983, is expected to step down as leader if his party is dealt a decisive defeat by the Conservatives, led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The Prime Minister called the first UK winter election for nearly a century in an attempt to gain a working majority to break the parliamentary deadlock over Brexit. The election results from across the country are being counted overnight and an overall result is expected in the early hours of Friday morning. Getty Images Election night 2019: In Pictures Labour Party candidate Sharon Hodgson speaks after is announced as the winner for the constituency of Washington and Sunderland West at a counting centre for Britain's general election in Sunderland, Britain REUTERS Election night 2019: In Pictures Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn arriving for the count at Sobell Leisure Centre for the Islington North and South constituencies for the 2019 General Election. PA Election night 2019: In Pictures Labour candidate for Walthamstow Stella Creasy carries her baby daughter as she speaks after winning in Britain's general election in Waltham Forest Town Hall, Walthamstow, Britain REUTERS Election night 2019: In Pictures The first ballot boxes for Belfast North are brought into the count centre in Belfast on December 12, 2019 to be counted for the UK general election. - Prime Minister Boris Johnson was on course for a decisive majority, exit polls indicated after voting closed in Britain's general election on Thursday, paving the way for Brexit AFP via Getty Images Election night 2019: In Pictures Independent, Count Binface poses for a photograph as he waits for the results in the count centre in Uxbridge, where Britain's Prime Minister and Conservative leader Boris Johnson hopes to hold his seat, in west London, on December 12, 2019. - Prime Minister Boris Johnson was on course for a decisive majority, exit polls indicated after voting closed in Britain's general election on Thursday, paving the way for Brexit. AFP via Getty Images Election night 2019: In Pictures Ballot boxes are emptied during the count at Northumbria University's Sports Central in Newcastle for the 2019 General Election PA Election night 2019: In Pictures Ballots are tallied at a counting centre for Britain's general election in Brighton, Britain REUTERS Election night 2019: In Pictures Ballots arrive at a counting centre for Britain's general election in Esher, Britain REUTERS Election night 2019: In Pictures General Election 2019 - Election count at Meadowbank Sports Arena, Magherafelt for Newry & Armagh, South Antrim, North Antrim, Upper Bann, East Londonderry, Foyle, Lagan Valley and Mid Ulster. Election night 2019: In Pictures A woman wears a rosette with the name of independent candidate Joe Bousfield on it as ballots are tallied at a counting centre for Britain's general election in Hartlepool, Britain REUTERS Election night 2019: In Pictures An exit poll from Thursday's election is projected onto Broadcasting House in London, Britain, December Jeff Overs/BBC via REUTERS Election night 2019: In Pictures The broadcaster's exit poll results projected on the outside of the BBC building in London shows Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party predicted to win 368 seats and a majority (L) and Jeremy Corbyn's opposition Labour Party to win 191 seats, as the ballots begin to be counted in the general election on December 12, 2019 AFP via Getty Images Election night 2019: In Pictures Ballot boxes are opened at Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt, Co Londonderry, as counting begins 2019 General Election. PA Election night 2019: In Pictures Votes are counted at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, for the UK Parliamentary General Election count PA

Populists, whether on the left or right, distance themselves from their predecessors to play on the public’s grievances. Johnson proclaimed his “new government”, even though his party had been in power for nine years. He even claimed, retrospectively, he had opposed austerity in 2010, which cabinet ministers at the time do not recall.

Inconvenient truths were swept aside. MPs had not blocked Mr Johnson’s Brexit deal, as he claimed: they approved in principle the bill, implementing it by 30 votes. The Commons rightly rejected his ludicrously tight timetable for scrutinising it. A compromise on that could easily have been found. Mr Johnson wasn’t interested, opportunistically seizing the moment to propose an unnecessary election, and finding willing partners in the Liberal Democrats and SNP, who also judged a contest would serve their interest. The SNP was right, the Lib Dems were wrong.

Our outdated first-past-the-post system handed Mr Johnson a huge advantage. He knew more people might well vote for parties committed to a Final Say referendum than for the Tories. But - as proved to be the case - the Remain vote would be split between Labour and the Lib Dems. So Mr Johnson could win on about 40 per cent of the vote, a much lower threshold than would have been required in the referendum people deserved given the new facts about Brexit that have emerged since 2016.

The “us versus them” election saw the same crude populism that helped Vote Leave win the 2016 referendum. Several of the team who brought us “take back control”, now working for Mr Johnson, gave us “get Brexit done”. It is the most misleading slogan I have known in my 37 years of writing about politics. It gave voters understandably bored with Brexit the impression they would never hear the B-word again after 31 January.

By then, only the divorce from the EU will be “done”. The long-term UK-EU trade deal will not, and we learned very little about it during this election. To persuade Nigel Farage to stand down half his Brexit Party candidates, Mr Johnson rashly promised not to extend the transitional period beyond December 2020, so another no-deal cliff edge looms then. Officials in Whitehall and Brussels doubt agreement can be reached by the deadline; negotiations could take three years.

At previous elections, I have written thousands of words about Tory attacks on Labour’s tax bombshells and Labour claims that the Tories would privatise the NHS. But this campaign sunk to a new low. It was the first post-truth election. I fear it will be the new normal, not a one-off.

The unregulated online attack adverts were an inevitable American import; the UK usually copies US campaign techniques a few years later. The Tories’ Facebook, YouTube and Google ads edited the words of opponents such as Sir Keir Starmer and those of BBC journalists. Twitter spread lies by anonymous “Tory sources”, who falsely claimed a Labour activist punched Matt Hancock’s adviser outside Leeds General Infirmary. Even if not done directly by the Tories, their supporters deployed the Trumpian “fake news” label to plant seeds of doubt about a damaging story – like the false claim that the photo of the four-year-old boy on the floor of the Leeds hospital was staged.

Team Corbyn believed it could use social media to by-pass “the MSM”, the mainstream media it despises. But after a ruthless Tory machine plumbed new depths, some Corbyn allies now admit a rethink is needed: old-fashioned journalism is needed to expose abuse of the unregulated new media.

Boris Johnson arrives with his dog Dilyn to cast General Election vote

Team Boris cared little for convention: the election would be fought on his terms, not the media’s. He avoided scrutiny, calculating that chickening out of an interview with Andrew Neil was better than being mauled by him. Media outlets that did not toe the line were threatened, like Channel 4 with a review of its remit, or banned from the Boris battlebus, like the Daily Mirror. Individual journalists were boycotted, like Sky’s Kay Burley. The Trump playbook again.

Johnson allies insist he is not “Britain Trump”, as the president once called him. They point to big differences between the two leaders on issues like climate change and global trade. They insist he is the same liberal conservative who was twice elected London mayor.

Mr Johnson repeatedly described his programme as “sensible, moderate, One Nation conservatism”. But his risk-averse manifesto deliberately offered few clues about domestic policy. “It was a manifesto to get us to 13 December,” one adviser admitted.

The prime minister’s huge majority will give him a free hand on policy. Yet he remains an enigma even to Tory insiders. Ryan Shorthouse, chief executive of the liberal conservative think tank Bright Blue, believes Mr Johnson will not side with either right-wing libertarians or a rival centrist group trying to pull him in a different direction.

He told The Independent: “I don’t think there will be an intellectual consistency in a Boris government, other than focusing squarely on winning and then maintaining the support of working class people. He will need to be fiscally and socially progressive to keep their support. The politics will force him to be like that. Whether he is somebody with deep principles which align with liberal conservatism, I am not so sure.