When the votes come thick and fast, it pays to have Commons experts on hand

The collective insight of colleagues from various departments means we can be as prepared as possible for the moment the speaker announces the results

I don’t think anyone can honestly say they were surprised when MPs voted to take the option of a no-deal Brexit off the table on Wednesday night. I doubt any eyebrows were raised when the prime minister’s deal was defeated for a second time the night before, either.

In fact, I imagine the results of most of the Brexit-related votes in the Commons over the past few weeks have been met with nothing more than a nonchalant shrug by those closely following Britain’s tumultuous departure from the EU.