The decision to prorogue must have seemed like a good wheeze to the amateur strategists in No 10 but it was a massive political mistake. We can see their thinking: normally the Commons would vote for a recess in order for the party conference season to proceed but the Government feared that MPs would stop that happening so they could continue undermining Brexit. However, prorogation always risked bringing in the courts because executive decisions are subject to judicial review. Anyone who advised Boris otherwise should be fired.

The moment Lady Hale, the court president, said they had reached a unanimous decision it was clear that the game was up for the Prime Minister. He had been braced for the outcome so it did not come entirely as a bolt from the blue. But that does not mean he knows what to do about it.

For instance, will the Tory conference go ahead next week? The Government has tabled a motion for a recess so the Tories can head off to Manchester but why would their opponents vote for that? The conference can go ahead without a recess but the Commons could get up to all manner of skulduggery while it was being staged. The Speaker will allow emergency questions that will drag ministers to the Despatch Box and, presumably, let backbenchers take control of the legislative programme once again. The Government has lost control.