Portrait of the week | 28 March 2019

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The House of Commons voted to take Brexit business into its own hands, passing by 329 to 302 an amendment by Sir Oliver Letwin. This was immediately described by Sir Bill Cash in the House as ‘constitutional revolution’. Three ministers resigned so as to vote for the amendment: Alistair Burt, Richard Harrington and Steve Brine. The Commons move followed a sorry visit to the EU summit of the other 27 heads of government by Theresa May, the Prime Minister, who ate pizza outside the room where they all enjoyed dinner. She had asked for Brexit to be delayed till the end of June, but was told that it would take place on 22 May if parliament voted for her withdrawal agreement. If not, Britain would have to decide on 12 April whether to leave with no deal or to accept a longer deferment entailing elections to the European Parliament. Asked about a place in hell for Brexiteers, Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, said: ‘According to our Pope, hell is still empty.