“The government is shutting down public debate… [on use of Royal Prerogative]” says the Guardian.

It certainly seems to be the case – but why?

A good while back, Mrs Thatcher refused to allow the voices of Sinn Fein to be heard on British TV, because she wished to deny them “the oxygen of publicity”. It wasn’t one of her better ideas.

Now, Mrs May appears to be on a similar trail. There’s a big difference, though.

Public debate about Brexit and about the invocation of Article 50 is not linked in any way to illegal activities, nor, despite hysterical allegations about treachery, to any lack of nationalism or love of country: the opposite, in fact.

It’s about the preservation of our democracy and the Sovereignty of Parliament. The mantra of “Take back control” seems relevant here, a point apparently lost on the Brexiteers who insult me on Facebook.

It’s also about continuing the significant help from the EU to organisations and to areas of our countries that really need it, such as Cornwall, areas of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales… this is lots of vital money for communities that really need it.

A number of those areas voted for Brexit. It would be better if they didn’t have to find out the hard way what the cost is.

“Meanwhile, back at the point”, why are Theresa May and her Brexiteers attempting to silence the opposing voices?

There are of course a number of possibilities. Not in any order of importance, they might be…

No, sorry, I think there are only two, still not necessarily in order of importance:

the Government wants to invoke Brexit, without opposition and without involving Parliament (in case Parliament rejects it), to promote Conservative party unity, whether that is in the best interests of the UK or not;

or the Government has no real idea about how to answer the arguments of the opposing voices, and is treading water, waiting for inspiration.

Both these possibilities are horrendous.

Either the Government and the unelected PM care more about the future of the Conservative Party than anything else, or… they are clueless. Would you care to choose?

Either way, the Government must be challenged. Please support The Peoples’ Challenge www.crowdjustice.co.uk/case/parliament-should-decide, which aims to have the Brexit “decision” (from the advisory referendum) put to Parliamentary debate and vote.

Our current support allows us to be represented in court in October.

A BIG thank you to all those who have made this possible.

We still need pledges to make sure we can carry on to take the Government all the way to the Supreme Court in December if we have to. I think we will have to, so please help us to uphold the rights of all UK Citizens and the Sovereignty of the UK Parliament.