John Bercow has spoken, now the government must get on with the job at hand

Editorial: In particular, MPs have the opportunity to consider putting the issue – the Johnson deal in essence – to the people via a Final Say referendum

Whatever the prime minister might have meant when he said he would rather “die in a ditch” than postpone Brexit on 31 October, a ditch is where he currently resides, in a state of some frustration. To adapt another well-known saying, he might consider whether he might now stop digging.

The mood of the House of Commons, a mood shared by a significant segment of the electorate, is to get on with Brexit by going through the actual legislation needed to “get Brexit done” by 31 October. Instead of bombarding the Commons with constant requests for an approval of the whole project without even reading a draft bill, the government should take the hint and get on with attempting to persuade the Commons to vote for the deal.

At that point, and not before, approval will be granted. Indeed, Sir Oliver Letwin and some who propose this route loudly support the Johnson deal. Others do not.