During Prime Minister Boris Johnson's suspension of Parliament the Law Courts were busy.
On 17th September the High Court in Scotland heard a case brought by 75 opposition MPs and Peers, that Boris Johnson had acted illegally in proroguing Parliament. The verdict was that Boris Johnson had indeed acted unlawfully.
A similar case was brought by Gina Miller and former Prime Minister John Major to the High Court of England and Wales. This case resulted in the verdict that Boris Johnson proroguing Parliament was a political act and therefore non-justiciable.
Subsequently both these cases were brought on appeal to the Supreme Court. The eleven justices hearing the cases unanimously came to the decision that Prime Minister Boris Johnson had acted unlawfully because he prorogued Parliament to prevent Parliament from carrying out it's normal business. The leading judge said that the prorogation being unlawful, it should be expunged from the record, so Parliament could immediately resume.
The Prime Minister was at the United Nations Summit where Greta Thumberg passionately addressed the gathered leaders on mitigating Climate Change. He had to come back from America to address Parliament as it was back in session.
Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats returned from their Conference in Bournemouth and their new leader Jo Swinson announced that, rather than the delay of another referendum on Brexit, they would revoke Article 50, meaning that the UK would remain in the EU.
Labour returned early from their Conference in Brighton where they discussed their policies for their next manifesto.
A close decision on Brexit means that Labour will officially stay neutral rather than campaigning to Remain in the EU, but since the majority of members and quite a few of the Shadow Cabinet also say that the best policy for the UK is to Remain in the EU, I suspect that there will be some unofficial campaigning.
Jeremy Corbyn says Labour will offer the public a referendum with the options of the best possible Brexit deal or Remaining in the EU.
I wrote to the Shadow Cabinet before the Conference, pleading for a clearer policy on Brexit and I think it is a bit clearer, although I would have liked Labour to say that there is no deal as good as the one we have already as a full member of the EU.
Boris Johnson returned to Parliament saying that he would "respect" the Supreme Court's ruling although he does not agree with it. There does not appear to be any penalty except that he has to face Parliament again.
The first "debate" was an extremely "passionate" one. The green benches are placed two sword widths apart, so there were no physical injuries but a number of MPs said Brexit was so devisive and people were so angry, that they and their families had received threats of harm and damage to their offices and homes.
Mr. Johnson says that Delivering Brexit by 31st October will "unite the country" and their fears were "humbug".
Although the EU negotiators still say that the UK has not offered any plan for a better Brexit deal, Boris Johnson says they are "straining every sinew" to get Brexit done and that Brexit Secretary, Stephen Barclay was in Brussels discussing with the negotiators.
He is adamant that Brexit by 31st October is still his plan. However he complains that the Benn Law (which means that if he cannot get a Brexit deal by 31st October he must ask for an extension to Article 50), passed by Parliament and ratified by the Lords is making his negotiations much more difficult, so he calls it the Surrender Bill.
The Conservative Conference will be in Manchester next week. I shall write to the Cabinet and as many Tory MPs as I can before it.
Meanwhile please ask everyone you can think of to sign, comment and share this petition. There are lots of demonstrations, facebook groups and petitions, so if you look up Brexit petitions you should find one or more local to you. Also write to your own MP, ring them or make an appointment to see them, attend any public meetings.
There is a big March planned in London on October 19th.
www.parliament.uk is where you'll find MPs and Lords/Ladies.
Thank you very much everyone who has signed so far and Good Luck!