The government is in psychopathic mode and chaos reigns in the lobby

Getting the train back from a major party conference straight to a sitting House of Commons is something no Westminster journalist, however old, has ever done before

PM’s words about Jo Cox were unforgivable – as is the fact he stands by them (AFP)

Even in these rarefied days, this has been a week for the ages. Not since I found myself physically shaking, at about 1am on 24 June 2016, have I felt quite so stunned by any single news event as watching Lady Hale read out the Supreme Court’s devastating verdict on Tuesday morning.

I was one of a large number of journalists, sitting in the media centre of the Labour Party conference, when things were changed utterly. I, like many, had expected the government to lose, but not to lose so dramatically, and for a court judgement, which are traditionally highly reserved, to be quite so brutal.

The scenes that followed it, in Brighton and in New York, were utter chaos. Jeremy Corbyn’s speech moved forward, journalists rushing to Westminster from the south coast. Others waiting in their New York hotel beds, just before dawn, for the prime minister to rise to see the almighty mess he was in.

Getting the train back from a major party conference and heading direct to Westminster and a sitting House of Commons is something no Westminster journalist, however old, has ever done before.

And instantly, the scenes were incredible. I am a political sketch writer, and yet, I could not find room even for a single sentence, over about 45 minutes of questions over the despatch box, on the subject of the prime minister’s “technology lessons” in an east London flat that is said to have its own pole dancing apparatus inside it. That is not the standard run of things.

Sadly, there is precious little to laugh at. Much has already been said and written about the “toxic atmosphere” in the commons on Wednesday night. I, personally, did not think it was significantly worse than it often is. Boris Johnson’s words about Jo Cox were unforgivable. But what is more unforgivable is that he has not asked for forgiveness for them. He stands by them.

And that, really, is the point. The government is in psychopathic mode. People imagine, or rather hope, it might be sensitive to requests to pull back from the brink. But it is the government that is driving us to the brink.

On Friday morning, the front page of The Times – The Times! – was given over to anonymous warnings from a “senior cabinet minister” that there will be riots if Brexit is not delivered.

You don’t need to be a genius in interpreting political language to quite fairly and accurately call this a veiled threat. A veiled threat of violence, against the people, from its own government, if its way is not delivered.

That it as bleak as it gets. These are grim days indeed.

Yours,

Tom Peck

Political sketch writer