Boris Johnson has exposed Brexit for what it is: the monstrous love child of Nigel Farage and the Tory right
The speed, irrationality, and turbulence of politics at the moment is such that comments which would once have made headlines now pass with barely a murmur.
Take, for example, the extraordinary remarks from the Justice Secretary, Robert Buckland, who said he would resign if Boris Johnson broke the law.
This is not an intervention the Lord Chancellor should have to make.
There is also a distinct possibility Mr Buckland may have to carry out his threat.
Senior Cabinet ministers yesterday did not reject the claim the Prime Minister may be willing to defy Parliament if that is the only way of securing our exit from the EU.
Those who cheer this cavalier approach, and his suspension of Parliament, should be careful for what they wish.
The price of Brexit will not just be economic, it will be a trashing of the constraints and destruction of the safety valves that keep governments in check.
A precedent will be set that will not only allow this anarchic administration to run roughshod over the rules but subsequent ones too.
Johnson has gone beyond caring about the collateral damage caused by his determination to deliver Brexit.
The splitting of the Conservatives, the constitutional vandalism, the possibility of public unrest, the economic carnage and the impact on individual livelihoods are now secondary concerns to fulfilling this goal.
There is no attempt to appeal to people’s better nature, only a cynical plan to whip up enough anger and resentment to hand him victory at the next election.
Perhaps it will work. Some polls this week gave the Tories a ten-point lead over Labour.
(Though others were more circumspect and suggested only a three-point margin.)
But it is monstrous gamble that relies on a pact with Nigel Farage and a brutal recasting of the Conservatives into a populist, single-issue faction.
Brexit was sold as a national project that aimed to unite people whatever their political affiliation.
Johnson has done us a favour by showing it for what it really is: the bawling monster of the Faragists and the Tory right.
Will Labour voters really want to be associated with such an enterprise?
Johnson will meet the Irish PM Leo Varadkar this morning in Dublin.
The attention then shifts back to Parliament where the Government will have yet another go at trying to revoke the Fixed Term Parliament Act.
With this almost certain to fail Downing Street is expected to announce the immediate proroguing of Parliament until October 14.
No 10 is keen to do this before MPs try to seize control of Commons business again to hold a debate forcing the PM to publish documents on the plan to suspend Parliament.
