The rebel alliance has taken control of parliament – and Brexit. What happens next?

Every Monday, a group of unlikely bedfellows meet in Jeremy Corbyn’s parliamentary office. Jo Swinson, Liberal Democrat leader; Ian Blackford, the SNP’s Westminster leader; Caroline Lucas, the Green party’s sole MP; and Liz Saville Roberts from Plaid Cymru all gather to discuss their common aim — preventing a no-deal Brexit. This rebel alliance is more than just a group therapy session: last week, they succeeded in taking control of parliament and immediately started to give instructions to the Prime Minister. So their Monday club is now a kind of remote-control government, with plenty to discuss. While parliament is suspended, they’ve promised to keep in touch.

Corbyn usually kicks off proceedings with a broad-brush comment about the perils of leaving the EU without a deal. Seumas Milne, his strategist, then takes over to talk about the more technical side. They discuss matters of the week — legislation, whipping arrangements — and ways to be unhelpful to the Tory government generally. As the conversation goes on, talk may turn to the election they all know is coming. But it’s an uneasy conversation. Their party allegiances mean that in a snap poll they will be competing against one another. They share a common enemy. But beyond that: not so much.

It’s unusual. But so is much of what’s happening now in Westminster. We’ve seen a government lose its majority, but be denied a 15 October election by parliament. MPs have voted to give themselves power to instruct the government, issuing orders by passing laws. The fun was cut short by Boris Johnson’s decision to prorogue parliament, but still several MPs embarked on a 2 a.m. sing-off in protest. Even the prorogation is now in doubt after a Scottish appeals court this week deemed it unlawful. The case will now go to the supreme court.

Now the alliance have their sights on an early election, but on their terms.