My amendment is the embodiment of a very old principle of this house. When James I became King in 1603 - do not worry, I am not going to do every year – he summoned parliament, and that parliament became so fed up with MPs constantly bringing back issues on which it had already decided that the house expressly decided on 4 April 1604: “That a question being once made, and carried in the affirmative or negative, cannot be questioned again, but must stand as a judgement of the house.”

That has been our rule.

This ruling has been repeated many, many times. On 30 June 1864, Sir John Pakington wanted to give more money to nursery schools – hoorah! On 17 May 1870, Mr Torrens wanted to relieve poverty by enabling the poor to emigrate to the colonies. On 9 May 1882, Henry Labouchère wanted to allow MPs to declare, rather than swear, an oath so as to take their seats. On 27 January 1891, Mr Leng wanted to limit railway workers’ very long hours. On 21 May 1912 – this one would probably have the support of every member – George Lansbury wanted to allow women to vote.

On every single occasion, the Speaker—Speaker Brand, Speaker Peel, Speaker Denison and Speaker Lowther – said, “No, you can’t, because we’ve already decided that in this session of parliament.”