Boris Johnson’s deal presents parliamentarians with three separate and distinct questions to answer in working out how to vote tomorrow: two questions of principle and one of process.

To turn to the process question first, parliament will have to decide if it is safe to switch off the provisions of the Benn act, which was passed (at great cost to some of us) to ensure that a no-deal Brexit on October 31 could not happen.

On the Commons order paper will be an amendment declining to approve the deal until such time as the legislation to give it effect has passed through parliament. Those who are intending to support that amendment aren’t necessarily hostile to the deal — some of my colleagues support the deal