Thread by @Staedtler

It seems to me that there's something quite primitive going on here. People are starting to treat the law with a kind of mysticism, and judges as a kind of magus.

It's just a law. It sets out the conditions that bring the law into effect, and the action that has to follow.
It's just a set of instructions. The obligation is entirely contained in the fact that it is an Act of Parliament.
That's why there are no loopholes.

I'll explain because I love explaining human behaviours.
The only objection Boris Johnson has to the Benn Act is that the government did not commission it. In his head, that undermines its authority.

B U T

Law does not become law because the government approves of it - although that is nearly always how laws come to be enacted.

A law is the law because it went through the stages of parliament and received royal assent. That is what makes it law, not the Prime Minister's approval.

I think there's an element of injured pride in Boris Johnson's rage at the Benn Act. And I'm afraid he is confusing his personal indignation with statute and law.

That's obviously WHY Johnson doesn't like the Benn Act, but the court is not going to set aside legal fact just to soothe his injured pride.

And if he's not careful the court will make him take it in person with everyone watching