Being outraged by Boris Johnson is easy. Especially when he blithely announces he is closing Parliament for five weeks.

My social media bubble is filled with outrage about this move from Johnson (none of that matey ‘Boris’ nonsense around here, thank you).

Outside of my circle, others feel differently, with one columnist today seeing nothing sinister about shutting Parliament, as all prime ministers do this to some extent. True up to a point – but not for five weeks, and not for such nakedly political reasons.

Johnson denies any political motive, adding he simply wants a break before a Queen’s Speech announcing his “very exciting agenda” (and if you believe that agenda might include posh-boy spiv work, pre-election bribes, sly sweeteners and soft-soap mendacity, you are not alone).

He has, you may have noticed, been carrying on as if he’d just been voted in on a massive majority, rather than smuggled through the back door thanks to the blessing of some 80,000 Tory members.

As long ago as the dim mists of last Sunday, when the Observer reported that Johnson was about to shut down Parliament, a government lies-person said this story was nonsense. Two days later, it turned out to be true.

You might not have been much impressed by Theresa May, as her dull dutifulness inspired no confidence. But you have to say one thing for her: Mrs Maybe sat and listened as her Brexit plan was kicked from one end of the Commons to the other. Boris Johnson lacks the courage or patience for such behaviour, so he shuts down Parliament and muffles debate. He isn’t man enough to have the argument; and that makes him less of a man than Theresa May.

Being outraged by Boris Johnson is easy. Especially when he diverts democracy and shuts down Parliament. Johnson says those opposed to Brexit are making a no-deal outcome more likely. Hang on a flickering minute there, Mr Johnson: you made a no-deal more likely by opposing Theresa May’s deal at every turn, accidentally aided and abetted by Jeremy Corbyn (where would we be now if the Labour leader had consistently opposed Brexit, rather than swinging this way and that?)

The biggest nonsense about this Brexit deadline is the impression that everything will be done and dusted on October 31. Never mind how much Boris Johnson might blow and bluster, that square on the calendar will mark only the very beginnings of a long and tedious process likely to last for years or decades.

As so much doubletalk has surrounded Brexit, especially from Tory MPs and ministers, all praise to LBC broadcaster Eddie Mair for pillorying four ministers who previously said proroguing Parliament was a terrible idea but are now keeping silent.

Matt Hancock, Amber Rudd, Andrea Leadsom and Nicky Morgan declined to appear on his show to explain themselves. So Eddie played clips of each saying how appalling it would be to suspend Parliament.

Nice one, Eddie.