Archaic, authoritarian, unequal to the challenge – parliament is broken

The Brexit shambles exposes the weaknesses of Westminster, which have grown starker since the 1998 devolution settlement. The House of Commons includes repulsive opportunists, bone-headed pedants and a few real scoundrels. But most MPs are well-meaning men and – especially – women. Yvette Cooper, wise Joanna Cherry, Anna Soubry the maenad with blazing eyes: they and their sisters have been the stars of these awful weeks. Best of all, none of them did that “womanly” number of trying to mediate between gnashing, stomping males. They gnashed too, and with a furious clarity. And it was Nicola Sturgeon who gave Theresa May the smartest epitaph: “The only leader in modern times who tried to fall on her own sword and managed to miss.”