I'm not sure that demonstrating that Major used prorogation to avoid scrutiny of a scandal really changes much. So we're agreed that PMs prorogue Parliament for abnormally long periods when they want to avoid awkward questions? Why might Johnson be doing that now? Why risk all of these negative headlines to avoid just four sitting days?

Of course, it's also absurd that Parliament has carried on with its usual summer and conference recesses as if nothing important is happening.

I suspect because the last few days before the deadline will be the peak of negotiations, because the decision of whether to leave the EU was decided by a referendum in 2016, and because referendums should not be overridden by MPs.

He wants the headlines I suspect. They only hurt him with people who would never have voted for him anyway, and they help him with groups who might.