Chris

With regards to keeping things open enough not to be caught lying, they have planned the prorogation for a constitutionally recognised reason, and it will reopen 2 weeks before Brexit day. Sajid Javid can easily say he was talking about an arbitrary prorogation, rather than the usual constitutional means of ending a parliamentary session in order to bring forward a Queen’s Speech. Indeed the speculation during the summer has been about a prorogation lasting until 1 November. Such an act would lack political cover and make a successful legal challenge more likely.

Yes, it’s nefarious, it’s scheming, but it’s just the right side of legitimate that in the long run it’s hardly likely to present long-term problems for our democracy. In mid October Parliament will reopen, debates about Brexit will restart and everyone outside the political bubble will wonder, briefly, what the fuss was about, and then forget all about it. That is the political calculation Boris has made. I tend to think it’s accurate.